A tranquil river awakens with dawn,
The boat awaits my father and me,
Spirits stand ready to accompany and aid.
Only I stand by the river,
Looking at the sky,
Searching for what’s hidden in its vastness.
I speak the words I hear my father say,
Summoning the elements,
As my father had tenaciously taught me.
The boat and I set sail into the depths,
At the call of the deep,
I cast my net,
I pull up my catch.
I step out of the boat with joy,
The sun pours down on me as I journey home.
My father sits in his favourite chair,
A folding one made of Ekki.
He smiles,
His feeble face glowed.
I smile back,
Tears welling in my eyes.
Thompson Emate spends his leisure time on creative writing, particularly poetry and prose. He has a deep love for nature and the arts. He lives in Lagos, Nigeria.