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How He Knows by Arthur Musah, Graduate Student

Ansomaa!
Fo gaa be son?
Fo ma be son?
Fo ba be son?
A biiri taa laafie?
A tomo be son?
Ka a sori?

This is the way he first knows
he's home.
Before the sun-baked soil has warmed
his feet
and a Harmattan air has sucked all suppleness
from his lips
before his nephews have brought him their sheanuts
and smiles
and his nieces their tuo-zaafi and bito soup
with rabbit meat,
his mother tongue says welcome.

And then he asks in turn:

Morning!
Was your sleep good?
Is your mother well?
Is your father well?
And the wife?
Do the children have life?
Is work good?
And the road?