Heart

Ghana Will Find Your Heart

After the sun's finished scorching the ground and the people who walk down these dirt streets,

Ghana will find your heart.

Tucked away, underneath layers of "I miss this." and "I want that."

When the brakes of your bike clench, and send a squeal through the air,

a glance upwards and Ghana's sky will find your heart.

The African sun tucked behind towers of illuminated clouds will shine and warm you.

The children walk, unattended down the road, and gape at your skin,

their little fingers grasping a piece of bread, or an unidentifiable toy.

Shouts from a football game cascade over the newly 'weeded' bushes and past the gutters,

they fill your ears but you don't understand the words.

Ghana's language will find your heart.

The children yelling, the adults yelling, the market women yelling

deep sounds, high sounds, words that blend together like poetry

will find your western heart.

Not always will you find the sun,

shining down on Ghana.

Africa is hot, but the brightness is old tin;

sometimes gleaming, sometimes rusted, and hard to see.

In which ever way the sun hits the roads in Ghana,

they bake with an ancient pride.

In whatever way the children stare at you,

seeing you today has been their pride.

The unknown words that meet your ears,

can be nothing but music,

when Ghana's found your heart.

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An exchange to Ghana is not always easy, but I think anyone who's travelled to West Africa will agree, it's worth it.