As part of the World Poetry Day commemoration today, Ghanaian poet Kwame Agyeman Berko has put together a poem to celebrate the late Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu who died in last month’s earthquake in Turkey. 

The funeral for the footballer was held on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Read Kwame Agyemang Berko’s poem titled ‘You’re Home, Rest Easy’ below:

Your death was not by any grace. 

And so we could not brace 

Ourselves for the phrase 

“Rest In Peace” in our tributes of praise. 

Your being slayed under the Turkish pile 

Of rubbish, 

Would not let us tone down on your fetish 

Of feeding multitudes with more than fish. 

For this has been served too cold like the proverbial dish. 

We might be on an intense whine, 

Like you are our spine. 

Truth is, until this fatal crossed line, 

Even you did not know you was a spine. 

But now we know it all. 

Too bad we bask in it after your fall. 

Short in life, you stood frighteningly tall. 

And not because you just played ball. 

Our national flag won’t fly at half mast. 

Because, the clowns don’t know past 

What rests in between their ears. 

But you are a black star today and forever years! 

You are back home, rest easy. 

You are back home, and we feel dizzy. 

You are back home, and it’s not been easy. 

By: Kwame Agyemang Berko