My Speech

I prepared my speech

Walking down the village

Jumping up and down the hills

Singing like a little freed bird

Helping old women carry their loads off their shoulders

I scribbled it down

Waking up early every Monday

Have school work done by every Friday

Cleaning the church every Saturday

Singing in the choir every Sunday

My speech was coloured

With my morning long walks to school

Filled with doubt and wonder

When it rained and when it thundered

It was sealed by my commitment to read at the candlelight

I put every word together

When the moon came out and I sat there quietly

Counting the stars like I am one of them

And down the river each cold morning

When I soaked my body in the ice cold running water

I had it all figured out

As I climbed the steep hills to our little house

Singing while balancing my can of water for the day

When the sun came out to warm my skin

And the Kilimanjaro in its glory

Was left bare for me to see

My Speech was corrected

Every time my aunt scolded me for my work

Every minute I had to write an essay of apologies

Every time I fell down going up the hills

Every single minute I was told you can’t have it

Every moment grandma kind eyes said she can’t do much

I had it all pieced together

When mama said I was the brightest

When grandma assured I was the kindest

When dad affirmed I was the strongest

When my siblings looked at me with their hopes at best

When friends called me the fiercest

When I finally knew my place

I rewrote it

When I realised there are no deadlines

To what I had in mind

When I knew I was the one

To write my ending

When I came to realise

I dint have to be like everyone

When I came to terms

With the journey I will walk alone

I am my speech

It’s written all over me

The cheers of my friends on my smile

The scorns of my enemies at my back

The scars of the falls on my ankles

The sparkle of my victories in my eyes

The depth of my love and passions

Deeply felt by the people I have touched

The happiness in my baby’s laughter

The peace in me when I go to sleep

It’s all me and so much more

Ready to walk on

What a journey to behold

To find the left pieces

To fit them in the empty places

And complete my speech of a lifetime

It is not an acceptance speech

For the award I am to win

Or the appreciation I will be accorded

I know if I don’t win a thing

I will definitely be the best version of me