Jesse Ojuka

Yesterday I hugged my mum,

for the first time in five thousand days.
It bubbled up my insides in a hundred thousand ways
The love I felt could cure blindness, I didn’t know it was there
A warm mood bloomed to douse the air.
Care sprinkles grey on top her hair
for all the years she shouted like Lear,
The food she cooks is hard to beat
I eat I eat I eat
Only murderous love or thundrous hate
no in-between,
twists my heart like a towel
from dirty to sparkle clean.
I pray for a happy ending
to pacify the rain
optimisms cherry tree
can’t be plucked away
if you pick one off
Hope will grow again
and lift me,
to try until the very end