My Bride Price

Bring me the paper on which you wrote your first love letter. The feeling in your stomach after your first kiss. The colours of your first love bite. The sincerity of your first love.

Photo by Elbert Lora / Unsplash

Fun Fact: I was once married to a man.

I wrote this shortly after my divorce. Someone suggested I get married again and that inspired me to think about what would be my bride price. What would it take for me declare my romantic partnership to the state again?

Wrap me in the finest silks from China
Decorate me with gold from Ghana
Make it rain with pounds sterling from England
Overwhelm me with yams from Oba, Anambra
Accessorize me with the latest fashion from Italy
Shower me with saffron from India
Fill my farm with cattle from Scotland
Season me with salt from the Dead Sea
Cool me with ice from Pluto

Drown me with your mother's unconditional love
Favour me with your father's patience
Spoil me with your godmother's generosity
Protect me with the strength of your ancestors
Envelope me with your sister's compassion

Bring me the paper on which you wrote your first love letter
The feeling in your stomach after your first kiss
The colours of your first love bite
The sincerity of your first love
Bring me, the shivers after your first orgasm

Fetch me the last song of spring
Recover the forgotten psalms
Whisper to me the lullaby of the moon
Harmonize with the waves of the sea
Embody the rhythm of my heart

Show me your old scars
Pour me new wine
Lend me your dreams
And hand me that blue sky

Guarantee paradise
That is my bride price