Ilẹkẹ

Artist: Kepemi A ; @kepemia

I thought my mother hid my beads. 

“What do you need this for?”, she had said

“To feel sensual” I replied 

“Sensual ko, senseless ni” She hissed as she walked out of my room, muttering something about not knowing what she had done to deserve such a deviant child. 

I smiled. 

Love you too! I mouthed, behind her retreating form. 

Then the next day I looked everywhere, but my beads were gone. It could only have been her. 

I stormed upstairs, and got to her room, ready to fight for my rights, but first I needed to pee. 

And there I found my beads. On her bathroom sink where I had left them the night before when I went to show her how great they made me feel while she ignored me and asked how my 3-day spiritual fast was going…

I said a mental apology to my mother and went back to where I had come from. 

My bed. 

I love my body. 

And I am proud of the fact that I can see it for what it is. A strong and lovely thing that carriers me around while I do my duties on earth. 

It is my temple of good things. 

My hall of fame 

And my partner in crime. 

I love my body 

For all it does for me

For all it does with me 

For all it is to me 

My body and me,

With my beads.