BEASTS. By: Hannah Amma Konadu Anarfi

Once upon a time,

The rhythm of our delicately merged hearts

Beating… skipping… racing…

When for the first time our eyes met

Was the music we knew

The only tune we could dance to.

Once upon a time,

We were both human.

But now these hands of mine,

Once innocent and fragile,

Are trembling.

This tired head now holds too much evil

Too heavy for my heart to bear

So it fell out as I journeyed here, heartless!

My tears have frozen midway down my cheeks.

For the melody in your heart has turned discordant

To you, I’ve become a lowly servant

And my mind with deep loathing, leaks.

You have made pain a constant companion

In this damned body of mine

The desire to spill blood

Your blood

Is like large flesh-eating termites

Crawling up my every opening

Feasting greedily on my insides

Dear Lord!

What is happenning?

Must I stay like this forever

Dining with the very image of my fears?

Must I, remain flat-faced on the floor

Prostrate before the beast you have now become?

No!

A year of hapiness with you

Was all I had.

Then you took as a mistress

That tall, elegantly shaped

Intoxicating green bottle!

Then you made me

Your whore

Your laundry basket

Your refuse bin.

You practiced your amateur boxing

On my belly;

Swollen with a son-

Our son.

Three in a row

You boxed out prematurely.

The last cost me my womb.

You sucked the human out of me!

And now…

Now

We are both beasts.

So let us waltz towards your grave, my beast.

All through our steps recalling

Those early nights you spent with me.

You once laughed with me

But now we have taken poison together

Bitter-sweet poison, together.

So let us go

Let’s go dance on your shiny marble grave.