First Gong Vol. 8: Thrust FIRST GONG 8 THRUST | Page 42

NO MORE NKEM.- Nwamaka Joy Chime
Bright colours...
That's what I thought of as my lover swept me off my feet - literally, and spun as I
screamed in dizzying delight.
Happiness swirled in my stomach in bright colours: bold red, rich purple,
warm blue, brilliant yellow,
cool orange, hot pink...
He stared into my eyes, and I saw promises of a thousand tomorrows together,
each one better than the one before,
promises that were, somehow, more potent because they were unspoken.
'You are beautiful,' he said, kissing my palm.
'I do not say it often enough.
'I want another sunrise, another sunset, another harmattan;
'I want another full moon, another Christmas.
'I want, not just another, but many more 365 or 366 days, times 50 at least.
'And I want them with you, Nkem. Marry me, Ifeoma'm.'
He carried my 'Yes' with him back to his base; I held on to his promise that he
would be back, no matter what.
* * * * *
Endless gray...
Grief lines my heart in thick clumps of dull, endless gray.
He said he missed me in truck loads.
That he could hardly wait to see me when he was on pass.
He said he dreamt of me every night.
He said he had to go on patrol so he would call me back.
He said many things.
They said his jet was shot down as he was returning from the patrol,
that they had recovered his body.
They said it was clearly an ambush.
They said he was a packard officer.
They said many things.
I didn't say anything.
* * * * *
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