I remember
Childhood and its episodes
The freedom to skip like a young skinny calf
Going unclad miles away from home
Except for juvenile delinquencies
I remember
A heart free from grudge and greed
Those true and sincere smiles
Lofty dreams and great aspiration
Built for tomorrow ̶ now a stubborn Today
I remember
Public holidays were wowing good news
A break amidst boring school days
To lick mum’s cooking oil from nails to elbow
Play all day and forget to pray
I remember
Bedwetting was a serious crime
Dad frowned at it with a few strokes
Christmas meant red colour stew
Splattered on a plateful of white grains
I remember
Hide and seek, with all the fun
The relief that dad would hustle the cash
And mum would convert them to yummy meals
A call to dinning ̶ our parents were caring
I also remember
Growing up spoilt the fun
Maturity dragged me into reality
Grown to face legion of responsibilities
Seems like Mum and Dad have disowned me
I also remember
Life unveiled its true colour
Its lashes more painful than dad’s whips
Growing up if made compulsory
I would choose the paradise of childhood
ABOUT GEORGE
Ndifreke George is an emerging Nigerian graduate and writer. Few of his works have appeared on; The Kalahari Review, Tuck Magazine, Poems and Poetry, The Poet community, Praxis Magazine, Social justice poetry, Bravearts Africa and The Antartica Journal.
Presently, he works as a Volunteer Literary Contributor for Bravearts Africa, and a scriptwriter for HumourTV (an online comic platform). He is very inspirational and graced with a good sense of humour.
