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Topic: Power (05/10/04)
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TITLE: The Pure Power of Kindness By Ajibade Jegede 05/12/04 |
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I eventually adopted two big sisters. Yes, usually it’s the other way around. I honestly thought they were soooo fine, but I knew I couldn’t click with them. So the next best thing was to have them look out for me. This arrangement actually worked out very well. I remember them always saying, enjoy these years at Hampton, they go by so quickly. Truer words have never been spoken. For some reason, I had trouble believing it at the time. Then it happened…
I was walking along the far side of campus to cross the bridge. I can’t even remember where I was going. All I remember is Ms. Claudia Owens. She was tall and graceful. I saw her approaching from a distance. Way before I was close enough to see her visage, I sensed something special about this Hamptonian. As the space between us shrank, I smiled and said, “Hi”. She smiled back and I felt like she had slapped me upside my cranium. She said “Hi”, “How are you?” I was stunned. This earthly goddess wanted to know how I was doing. She had this disarming way about her. She was so genuine and joyful. At this point, I had never experienced any one who left such a kindred first impression. I said fine...now. She laughed and continued to drink me in, as if she was wondering what I could possibly do next. We chatted for a short time, about mundane topics, I can’t remember. I only remember how that encounter ended. I could tell it was time to part ways. I said, “You know it’s not often that I meet someone so beautifully tall. Would you mind terribly, if I hugged you farewell?” She smiled that captivatingly sweet smile and responded by stepping closer to hug me. I almost lost it internally, but on the outside I was cool like that. I said, “maybe we’ll run into each other again sometime.” Nice meeting you Claudia. She said “Bye bye Bayo.”
Thus, was the beginning of a series of crushes I experienced at Hampton. I truly believed I fell in love with Claudia from that day. I found out she was really being a sweetheart. I wrote her a poem entitled the “The Maiden who Knew not.” I read it to her over the phone to tell her how smitten I was. She never knew and saw me as a platonic friend. I guess I played it too cool for her to notice my true feelings. Regardless, thus was the end of that potential love. We faded out into the waters of Hampton University and life rolled on.
I went through despair for a few weeks after that. I wrote a poem “In the pale moon light” a tribute to the grotesque relationship between Batman's Joker and Vickie Vale. I gained much from that kind encounter with Ms. Owens. She was pivotal in launching my poetic penchant. Though this time when it came to affairs of the heart...the joke was on me.