By Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
It has been thirty-seven years since I borrowed a library card
At the Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library at UNIFE (OAU)
From a shy, handsome, gap-toothed classmate
He came to my University for a degree
He left with his degree and something else
Three years later we walked down the aisle
A simple beautiful ceremony in London
The dress was from Debenhams
The suit was Italian
With wedding rings from H. Samuel Jewelers
And a lovely red and white cake that cost 90 pounds
No parents paid for anything and nothing was owed after
The party was supposed to end at 9pm
We gave the Jamaican Venue Manager a pack of beer
He beamed and said we could stay for as long we wanted
Our family and friends in London danced all night
On Monday we were homeless due to no fault of ours
That is a story for another day!
The seasons came and went
Thirty-four of them and still counting
As the good book says, there was a time for everything
A time to paint and decorate
A time to pack up and move
A time to settle somewhere new
A time to agonise
A time to organise
A time for sadness
A time to rejoice
A time to dream
A time to hope
A time to plan
A time to talk
A time for silence
A time for friends
A time for enemies
A time for tears
A time for laughter
Through it all there was one thing that defied time or circumstance
It was always A Time for Love
Thank you for all the wonderful years
Thank you for being my friend
Thank you for holding my hand
And for placing yours in mine
Thank you for being such an amazing father
Thank you in advance, for all the great years to come
Thank you for lending me your library card so long ago
Without it, I would not have had such a life of love.
‘The Library Card’ was first written in September 2019 and can be found in ‘Where is Your Wrapper?’ Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, published by Prestige, Kachifo Limited, October 2020. This is an updated version.
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Social Entrepreneur and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com