A letter to Child Q
My heart feels heavy today. It has felt heavy for a while. I think this time must feel heavy for many of us right now. It feels trite to say this, however I must believe this will pass and we will feel a bit lighter at some point. Although, there is no evidence to suggest this, I believe it will happen. I guess this is what living in faith is all about.
I am not sure if an introduction is required here, as this is my first public/private letter.
My name is Dr Yewande and I enter this space as a Yorùbá elder and cannabis historian.I extend my love and good wishes towards you and your family. I call on the ancestors to guide my thoughts and intentions as I honour and centre you in my writing. My main wish is that your anonymity remains intact, and you heal towards wellness and happiness soon.
I felt sad when I heard about your ordeal on the news. I was not sure how to engage in the discussion. This feeling was further compounded when I received a phone call from someone based in the United States, who wanted to come to the UK to open a CBD shop. The following day, I got a text from a colleague who was interested to read my analysis on the matter of Child Q. That is when I realised that I wanted to focus my good intentions towards you, create a space of love and healing for the black community and shine a spotlight on the issues which converged to produce the events of that day. I want to do this with insight, and compassion, which means this will be an organic conversation and I will wear many hats along the way. When the time is right for you, I hope you get to read my blog posts someday.
Today, I am drawn to meditate on touch because you were not treated with due care or compassion. I share my prayer poem about healing touch with you.
pray may my hands only do good today
my hands can make a bad day seem like play
may my hands become invisible
as I sculpt heavy thoughts
into light deeds
invincible
bright deeds create
the soul glow
buoyant
as we journey
through life’s
purple labyrinth
forever fragrant green
kaleidoscope
may my hands
grace the lives
of the young
who flow
into my life
to hold
space for
young hearts
to blossom
in vigour
may
the hands
of the
young
hold space
for me
to rest
my weary
heart
may we remember
to gift our hands
to each other
one-by-one
just because
we know no
other way
to be
àṣẹ
Copyright Yewande Okuleye 2022