Wana Udobang: Take Me Back

Wana Udobang is a Nigerian poet, writer, filmmaker, and media personality known for her multifaceted contributions to the African arts and literature.

Take me back
Take me back to sprinkling salt on 
wriggling worms to muddy puddles and 
spinning rain

Take me back
take me back to police and thief, sue 
and ten ten to patting our hands in 
choreography till they turn soul

Take me back
take me back to walls ice cream and Mr
biggs after Sunday mass to playing in 
mommy's red lipstick and shaving an 
eyebrow by mistake 

Take me back
take me back to
sparklers and fireworks at Christmas 
to six hour braids and fried meat 
soaking air

Take me back
take me back to 
vaseline coated lips 
spaghetti straps and cargo shorts
to taking the longer road 
so the boy at number seven 
could watch me 
from his balcony

Take me back
take me back to winding my legs to the 
butterfly and shabba ranks on the radio 
take me back to Maxwell cassettes and 
Tony braxton pixie cots 

Take me back
take me back

Take me
all the way back