Frederick Kwesi Great Agboletey

Fire Dance

Dancing by the fire,

He learnt soon enough.

He had come from along way,

Far away from somewhere, yonder

With hopes and pulsating energy

To fulfil a wish-

'If wishes were horses, beggars would ride'

Riding high horse of honest thought

He was thrust into dreadful fray,

Stinging flames lashed out

Rapacious tongues licking

Slicking in long abrasive strokes-

He bore the scars and learnt,

Real quick

Hopping with one foot over burning coals at brimming edge of circle of flames,

Man, that he was

He stood his ground with patient resilient-

The warrior has faced his test,

Amidst blazing scourge

Man’s nemesis is his soul

In heat of mind’s battle

Steady heads carry long day

And what a long day it turned out to be-

Between blazing flame

And freezing cold

There is only one certainty;

A chill that burns to the bone

No retreat, no surrender

As bones clang against harsh metal-