BABA AGBA'S ADVICE

Baba Agba means grandpa in Yoruba Mama Agba, grandma

"True love is a lie!"
My baba agba would whisper,
With a defiant little snicker,
Into those dainty little ears of mine.
I guess in a child's mind,
Ridiculing grown up things with his granddad
Was the most mature secret
A child could keep

When I was a teenager,
He was already a grumpy old man.
He'd look me dead in the eyes.
His voice, a conspiratory snarl
"Full of bull, your mother,
True love's fake, it's not worth a price!"
By God, I miss that man!

Since,
I have had my own fair share
Of this earth's polluted air
With a few heartbreaks too many.
But my one major outtake
Was what baba agba used to say
"Real love is plenty stupid!
What do I know though?
I'm just a lucky old crow
Who was shot by cupid's arrow
Fifty years ago and counting"

Two days ago,
On a bed at our local clinic,
As baba let life loosen it's stranglehold
He held my eyes, slowly wheezing
"Remember True love is a lie,
Real love is the truth.
I wasn't the first one for your grandma
Neither was she mine.
But what I built with mama agba
Is worth more than any price of mine"
...He breathed his last.

Clutched between his dead frail hands,
The doctors found a note
"Don't cry, you stupid b******s!"
Love and arthritis wrote
"I lived a very full life,
Please focus on building your own"

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful and honest words shared.
"Don't cry, you stupid b******s!"
Love and arthritis wrote
"I lived a very full life,
Please focus on building your own"
I liked and respected the above lines. Thank you my friend for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Helena]

Absolutely a 'gem' of a poem. Loved the ending! Much enjoyed. ~ Helena ~