Monday, November 29, 2010

Deconstruction of a Gambian Marriage [FICTION]



The Nouns




Meeting. Infatuation. Surrender. Retreat. Advance. Ending. Beginning. Ending. Beginning. Progress. Regress.

Decision.

Honey. Baby. Boyfriend. Introductions. Best friend. Cousin. Darling. Sugar. Neh-nehhhh.

Fights. Make-ups. Dinners. Break-ups. Silences. Words. Patchings-up.

Possession.

Proposal.

Acceptance.

Kola Nuts. Uncles. Mosque. Hew. Griots. Histories. Lavishness. Gifts. Friends. Smiles. Pride. Mothers. Fathers. Joy.

Vans. Buckets. Taasu. Paans. Lockets. Tama-kats. Guewels. Woyaan-kats. Imams.

Work friends. School friends. Old friends. New friends. Felicitations.

Night.

Old Women.

White Sheets.

Darkness.

Ceiling Fan.

Entry.

Obstruction.

Woye!

Inside. Outside. Blood.

Woooye…

Inspection.

Announcement. Celebration. Drums. Singing.

Tiredness.

Morning. Stiffness. Limping. Phone conversations.

Nijaaye. Baby. Babes. Love. Chapali Bon Bon. Honey. Big daddy. Mandingo Warrior.

Kitchen. Domoda. Super. Benachin. Meatballs. Dinner Table. Conversation. Bills. Visits. In-laws. Njaykays.

Period. No period. Vomiting. Roundness. Day-sleep. Insomnia. Mood swings.

Pregnancy kit. Confirmation. Joy. Announcement. Phone calls. Congratulations.

Plans.

Big belly. Kicks. His Names. Her Names. Discussion. Argument. Resolution.

Contractions.

Car ride. Hospital. Midwives. Hospital Bed. Pain. Strength. Pain. Firmness. Pain. Pain. Pain.

Expulsion.

Liquids. Solids. Semi-liquid solids.

Incubator. Tears. Assurance.

Death?

Prayer. God. Trust. Serign Sallah. Alms. Sowe. Mbuuru. Maalor.

Life.

Hope.

Fever. Trembling. Weight Loss.

Despair.

Death.

Blamings. Shoutings. Fights. Crashings.

Silences. Bed walls. Kitchen walls. Dining Table walls. Wall walls. Word walls. Walls of silence. Walls of stone.

Divorce.

Absence. Ache. Numbness.

End.




The Verbs



Meet. Speak. Discover. To be demur. To be forward. Part. Leave.

Re-meet. Speak. Call. Speak. Text. To brush against. Reply. Flirt. Advance. Retreat.

Offer.

Hesitate. Convince. To be scared. To be assured.

Withdraw. Advance. Withdraw.

Surrender.

Imagine. Wonder. Call. Fight. Make up. Fight.

Imagine. Remember. Daydream. Night-dream. Fight. Make up. Fight.

Talk. Worship. Fight. Hate.

Make up. Worship. Irritate.

Desire.

Want.

Possess. To be possessed by.

Miss. Call.

To feel bad. Call. To feel better.

Dine. Propose. Cry. Agree. Announce. Call. Buy. Visit. Plan. Buy. Hire. Arrange.

Pack. Cry. Depart.

Approach.

Enter.

Woye!

To cry out. Inspect. To be satisfied. To announce. To celebrate.

To feel stiff. To walk slowly.

Make breakfast. Talk. Make lunch. Talk. Make dinner. Talk. Hold. To be held. Snuggle. Canoodle.

To mess up bed. To change sheets. Remake bed. Repeat.

To miss period. Pee. Look. Read. Call. Surprise. Return. Hug. Cry.

Push! Push! Puuuuush! Scream!

To be happy.

To be worried.

To be sad.

To be numb.

Depart. Forget.

End.




The Adjectives


Noticeable.

Attractive. Well-spoken. Well-dressed. Sexy. Curvy. Smart.

Perfect. Flawed.

Crazy. Moody. Temperamental.

Vivid. Vicarious. Various.

Poetic. Burning. Intense.

Falling.

Gentle. Tender.

Soft. Curvaceous.

Passionate.

Beautiful. Nice. Fragrant.

Masculine. Deep-voiced. Lispy.

Jet-black. White. Dark.

Happy. Sad. Happy. Irritating.

Needy. Needful.

Slow. Fast. Painful.

Peaceful. Delicious. Happy. Chatty. Fulfilled. Fulfilling.

Lush. Filling. Inspiring.

Joyous.

Agonizing. Sad. Devastating.

Final.

4 comments:

  1. Haha Amran! You're killing me. I haven't heart chapali bon bon in ages

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello! You have a wonderful blog! I am happy to visit here!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the genius-ness of this description, very picturesque....your blog is amazing n your writing skills r beyond superb

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks - glad you like it. are you another Gambian blogger?

    ReplyDelete