Singing Children: A Poem by Itoro Udofia

Singing Children

by Itoro Udofia

I hear the children singing against the mourning dove’s cry
They tread red earth and praise a blue sky
They eat the raw cocoa
They tell me it’s sweet
I’ve tasted it too
I say, “Too bitter to eat.”
I hear them humming
I’ll try to hum too
I’m no longer a child
But I can still stay in tune
My notes scurry to run with these children of the sun
They sing to me that I cry too much, singing,
“Mother! Give us your teardrops. We’ll drop some in our eyes
We’ll cry into the soil and help you sprout more life
When you can cry no longer
We’ll cry the final batch out
If we do things this way
There’ll be enough crying to go around
One day we’ll cry less. Laugh more
One day we’ll cry less. Laugh more.”
Sing the children against the mourning dove’s cry
They tread red earth and praise a blue sky
They eat raw cocoa
They tell me it’s sweet
I’ve tasted it too
I say, “Too bitter to eat.”
I say, “Soon. Too bitter for you to eat.”

Itoro Udofia resides in Northampton, MA. She is a student at Smith College and a lover of the written and performed word. She believes in the healing powers of music, performance, language and service and is a happier person because of it. She thanks her family and friends for being loving and nurturing.