Why Is the White Man’s Thing Always Different?

By Majekodunmi Ebhohon

THE white man’s spoon is flat.
Our spoon is a bowl on a stick.
His spoon is a shovel for nothing.
He eats soup with a flat thing.
Why?

The white man’s clock has two hands.
Our clock is the sun and the shadow.
His clock is always talking.
It says ‘now now now’
and everyone runs.
Why?

The white man’s door opens inward.
Our door opens outward.
His door is a wall that moves.
You have to step back to enter.
Why?

The white man’s nose is for decoration.
Our nose is for breathing.
He talks through holes in his face
that do not open and close.
When he says ‘yes‘ his nose does nothing.
When he says ‘no‘ his nose does nothing.
When he is happy his nose stays still.
When he is sad his nose stays still.
Why?

The white man’s bed is off the ground.
Our bed is the floor and the mat.
His bed is a shelf for sleeping.
You must climb up to rest.
Why?

The white man’s water comes from a tap
and you turn it and it stops.
Our water is the river and the rain.
His water is a servant.
You pay it to come.
Why?

Auntie says I will learn.
She says soon I will hold my nose to talk
like everyone in this country.
But I do not understand
why a nose must be held
for words to leave the mouth.

I am watching the white man’s nose.
It is open. He is talking.
His nose is not held.
Why does he tell me to hold my nose
when his nose is open?

Maybe I will never know.
Or maybe one day I too will hold my nose
and I will not remember
whether I ever opened my nose.