KAIMA...

I saw the twinkle in his eyes

As I sang the lullaby

He hardly falls asleep

But when he does, it is so deep

Unlike babes of his age

That go on midnight rampage

Crying as though the gods

Whipped mankind with iron rods

Kaima sleeps like a lamb

Wakes up at dawn, smiling and calm

I love to see him laugh

Divides all my problems in half

I love to count his teeth

Ivory white with strands of meat

I do the chewing for him

As he swallows, he will beam

And smile, then giggle

As I sing his favourite jingle

Like the jewel of the morn

Like rays of the morning sun

He shines, sprouting forth

Product of my loins, heaven's warmth

Like the dew in early harmattan

He is rare, unique, my little man

His laughter is pure joy

My infant soon became a boy

Now walking unaided, he runs

And soon learns that fire burns

He learns fast, reading voraciously

Holding the little he understood tenaciously

'Knowledge is power,' I tell him

'Fill your empty cup to the brim'

I was not surprised he could remember

Stories from books he read last December

He grew into a young, bright chap

Handsome, with brain like a map

With a sponge-like mind

He absorbs all he can find

I stepped in, of course

To separate the truth from the false

He did not make friends easily

And prefers to be left alone, usually

The few he made, he kept close

Showed everyone love, often in overdose

I taught him that a drop of honey

Catches more flies, bet money

Than a barrel of vinegar

That salt is as important as sugar

That it is better to have a good name

Than a trailer-load of fame

That the truth never dies

Though sunk in a river of lies

Soon it will surface 

And take its rightful place

I taught him to be grateful for each day

That time is short, life slips away

That he can only be a child once

So he should water the land and plant his corns

That childhood is a gift

That he should save money and spend with thrift

That he should uphold the family name

And never bring us shame

That he should work hard

To become a responsible lad

That he should laugh much and oft

Because it makes the heart merry and the face soft

That it is always good to pray

Since God has the final say

That I will be there for him no matter what

Whether he turns out good or not

© Kelvin Alaneme, 2013. Follow on twitter @dr_alams. 

Email: kelvinalaneme@gmail.com