Sunday, October 11, 2015

Olajide Vincent Ajise writes

WISH

Son, for how many years
did you explore the   citadel
of sapience that yet you still
crucify decorum in this     precarious clime?

Remember,    when you returned,
we magnified the ascension of your glory;
We even        danced to beats
eulogizing the dominion of your name. Solidarism.

But now    that we seek the prognosis to the ailment
that has bedeviled the mitochondrion of our ancestry.
You just sit there    stroking the screen of your IPhone.

1 comment:

  1. Harry Chapin's song "Cat's In The Cradle" expresses a similar sentiment but in a more wistful and less bitter manner, and the blame is directed to the speaker rather than the son:

    My child arrived just the other day
    He came to the world in the usual way
    But there were planes to catch and there were bills to pay
    He learned to walk while I was away

    And he was talking 'fore I knew it and as he grew
    He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad
    You know, I'm gonna be like you"

    And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
    Little boy blue and the man in the moon
    "When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when
    We'll get together then, son, you know we'll have a good time then"

    When my son turned ten just the other day
    Said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on and let's play
    Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today
    I got a lot to do" he said, "That's okay"

    And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
    Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
    You know, I'm gonna be like him"

    And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
    Little boy blue and the man in the moon
    "When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when
    We'll get together then, son, you know we'll have a good time then"

    Well, he came from college just the other day
    So much like a man I just had to say
    "Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
    He shook his head and he said with a smile

    "What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
    See you later
    Can I have them please?"

    And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
    Little boy blue and the man in the moon
    "When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when
    But we'll get together then, dad, We're gonna have a good time then"

    Well, I've long since retired and my son's moved away
    Called him up just the other day
    I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
    He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time"

    "You see, my new job's a hassle and the kid's got the flu
    But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
    It's been sure nice talking to you"

    And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
    He'd grown up just like me
    My boy was just like me

    Yeah, and the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
    Little boy blue and the man in the moon
    "When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when
    But we'll get together then, dad, we're gonna have a good time then"

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