The Scent of Herbs

Returning home on foot after work

through a shortcut behind houses

poorly planned

bumped into a lady burning weed

after sweeping her backyard

the scent of herbs reminds me

of my childhood

when I used to follow dad to the farm

my happiest moments were in the afternoons

when we paused for the lunch

of roasted yam with agushi stew

A mouse or two hovering over hot coals

from their long poles

as if in prayer, dripping with oil

here I was, a city boy missing village life

some village teen seated somewhere in a village daydreaming of life in a city they might never see

By Benjamin Nambu

From: Ghana

Website: https://www.greatbenji.business.blog

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