So, they faced each other on Facebook
In texts and in short notes
In images and in emojis
In words sorted in secret and something cryptic
On selfies and on picture profiles
From affectation to infatuation to affection
Then, they saw each other in snapshots
Some streaming, some trending
Some sitting, some standing
Some posing, some posturing
All confusing enough to convince
Then, they described one to each other
His training by profession
Her profession by training
His pedigree per his degree
Her preference per her essence
Both colluding to connive
So, it was time to track each other after Facebook
He said he lived in Takoradi
So she left Tema to visit her Facebook buddy
It was a weekend of intro and familiarization
It was for stimulation and adaptation
It was to lead to a possible intimacy
It was to lead to a future nuptial ceremony
She chose to sit close to the window
With her handset fixed close to her earlobe
With anticipation plainly written on her brow
She praised her luck
She had found such a dear
She had begun speaking to him from takeoff…through speed off
Ear witnesses feigned interest…but were actually envious
She laughed over trivia…to quench her emotional thirst
Just as the bus passed by the castles of Edina
It began to rain cats and hyenas
That was when she lost the electromagnetic signals in her iPhone
“Hello”
He wouldn’t hear
Her Facebook dearie
“Hi”
He wouldn’t answer
Her Facebook darling
But he was answering face to face to another
— a homebird
— a homegirl
A homebird wading through the raging deluge
A homebird seeking a warmly manly refuge
A homebird escaping the cold chilly night soon to engulf
Several beats of her heart missed
“What a rainy mess!”
The drops continued in torrents
And her heart enveloped by a torment
The bus completed a descent deep into the West
Then it screeched to a halt in a moment
“Last stop”
That was the bus conductor’s last announcement
None but four hovered in the bus
All else were alighting in a rush
She was unsure where to rush
Where was she to head in the rain?
Why, all her calls were transmitting in vain
All four saw she was in pain
It was tears that expressed her pain
Then, one offered to lessen her pain
That was a tearful weekend
At the home of her Good Samaritan
It was a whole weekend spent in Takoradi
With no sign of her Facebook cherie
It was a thousand and one calls sent
Not one of them got answered
He was still answering to the homebird…with tweets and with treats
It was all calls and tears galore
Until Monday morning blues
On blue Monday she returned to Tema
Clothed in a high pitch gloomy fever
A call came through…on her way home
“The impudence of a caller!”
She looked down her handset…with eyes turned sore
It was the only number she suspected
It was the only number she dreaded
“Oh this contemptible number!”
She mustered all the will in her strength…all the strength in her will
She deleted that despicable number
“Never again!” was her resolve
Never again to be on a wild blind chase for love
“Never!”
That last time
Was the last time
She would book her face
On Facebook
The post Poetry Corner: Faceblues appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
