Winning Words: Home

CHLOE WALKER
The cover of The ArtsEtc NIFCA Winning Words Anthology 2017/2018.

 

When he comes  
He waits patiently by the door. 
He knocks softly. 
Gently.
He asks,
May I come in? 
Are you at home? 
Is now a good time? 

He waits. 
10 minutes 
50 minutes 
2 hours.
Until I am ready. 
 
And when he enters 
He brings kind greetings. 
Water. 
Fruit from his orchard. 
He compliments my home
And its small changes. 
He is careful  
Delicate with the pieces.
Each one beautiful. 
Each one prized. 
Each one mine. 

He asks before he touches 
With his mouth 
Hands 
His eyes. 
 
And when he leaves 
He leaves gracefully 
Careful not to damage 
What he adores. 
He holds my hand 
Kisses my temple 
Thanks me for my warmth 
My hospitality 
The food 
Water  
The fire. 

And I tell him 
Come again 
You are welcome. 
And I give him the key 
Tell him he is at home 
And he says  
He knows 
Asante sana. 
 
And the next time he comes 
He waits patiently by the door. 
He knocks softly 
Gently. 
And he asks
 
May I come in? 
 

Chloe Walker (Silver, 2018) recently returned to the pen after a ten-year hiatus, which followed a well-decorated career as a child poet. Chloe hopes to use her success in the 2018 NIFCA Literary Arts Competition as a catalyst for life-long engagement with “grown-up” creative writing.

Barbadian Literature
Caribbean Literature
NIFCA Winning Words Anthology
poetry