The time is passing too quickly now. I looked around the workshop today and felt a visceral sadness at what leaving means. Departing from this beautiful community of writers and friends. The hope it instills in me is that wherever my next move is, I will connect with other like-minded souls. Tonight, after dinner with Yusef and friends, after the panel and reading, a group of us ended up at Bywell, another touristy Highlife club. The live band played covers, mostly, and the place was packed. Imagine an outdoor bar, flooded with an odd mix of Ghanaians and foreigners, all singing "Na, na, na, na, na, na, na HEY JUDE!" with their varied accents. We comment on how the prostitutes look like Mary J. Blidge in different stages of her career. I get a creepy feeling watching them cozy up to the flabby, unattractive wrinkled white men in their crisp dashikis. But no matter! I am drinking a large Star beer with my people and Malaika, Semani and I are dancing in our chairs, mimicking one another, isolating parts of our bodies and moving them in time ("now hands!" "Just chin!") Finally standing to let loose and saying to Tonya, "I could do this. Poetry all day, dancing all night!" Every inch of me meant it.
The crowd at Bywell
Tyehimba, Faith, Tonya & Malaika at Bywell
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