When I took my first breath Poem by John Ukpanukpong

When I took my first breath

I knew unconsciously that I was in for it

I cried for the first time

Friends and family welcomed me

A couple of days I started guessing at faces

Trying to understand my new environment

All I had to do was eat, sleep and cry

My direction was always at my food source

My mode of communication was to cry

My cry makes my sweet mum to search

When I took my first breath

I was tortured for no reason

Can this people be so wicked I cried in pain?

With smiles on their faces “you’re welcome”

Oh I thought “can this world be so sarcastic?”

What have I done to deserve all this?

Oh! My new environment is quite uncomfortable

My food pipe was cut off but I never knew why

Until the bad worms came to eat me up

Oh cried and cried and cried and cried

When I took my first breath

My food source was in a new direction

I had to be led to where it was because of ignorance

“What are you putting into mouth?”  I thought

It’s taste made me wanted more

Disconnected, “What again?”  I screamed and cried

Mum said “ it’s time you hit the sacks”

Everything seems strange to me

I looked at the well garnished bed

I wondered and wondered and wondered.

When I took my first breath

Little fellows came to greet me

Some dared to carry me

I screamed and cried and cried

“Can this little hands bare my weight” I thought

But they was one familiar hand than bore me

I unconsciously wasn’t afraid

I had my firm trust in that hand

She carried me and sang lovely songs

She smiled, smiled and smiled and smiled.

When I took my first breath

I heard sounds I never was familiar with

“Why are they making a noise?” I thought

I saw their mouth moving up and down

But I never understood the sound it brought

“What a world of confusion” I thought in bewilderment

“Oh very strange” I thought

Oh what can little me do

All I had to do was to join them

I watched, and watched and watched.