The AI-generated answer is correct. Below, you will find additional information about the poem and essential information about Kofi Awoonor:

Those poetic lines are from the powerful poem "I Am the Drum, You Are the Drummer" by the acclaimed Ghanaian poet Kofi Awoonor.

Kofi Awoonor (1935-2013) was one of Ghana's most celebrated poets and literary figures. Some key facts about him and this poem:

- He wrote primarily in English but translated poetry from his native Ewe language.

- Much of his work explored themes of African identity, tradition, and the perseverance of cultural heritage.

- "I Am the Drum, You Are the Drummer" is from his 1975 collection Night of My Blood.

- The poem uses extended metaphors, likening the poet's voice to a drum guiding the reader on a spiritual journey of self-discovery.

- The lines you quoted capture Awoonor positioning himself as the symbolic drum that resonates with the reader's past, future, departures, and returns.

- His rhythmic, incantatory style evokes African culture's oral tradition of storytellers and griots.

- Awoonor believed poetry could connect people to their ancestral roots and the enduring wisdom of traditional ways of life.

Awoonor was a towering literary voice who explored African heritage through vivid, metaphysical poetry. This piece exemplifies his innovative style, bridging past and present.