Brown Beans

By Chimezie Umeoka

My dear lover,

Cartridge of vegetable pudding 

Blend of palm juice and grounded seed

What is it that makes you beautiful?

Is it the plantain mashed into your skin?

Is it the sparse spread of greens?

My brown beans,

Look at how you move like a delicate woman.

If beauty strikes the eyes of the beholder 

Then you fill that vacuum that compels us to behold.

Oiled river of the Palm family 

Caress my wet tongue till eternity 

Flow—flow like golden jewel blood 

Upon my red leather 

For once you stop my brown beans,

The world will know how to float no more.