On that day that we died Oh, the streets were bloody. We were a people on the wall Pressed tight by injustice As our anemic breaths mixed with our stench Of tears, dirts, sweats and rots. Suddenly, our hearts were enraged. Mortal men like us had us On our backs while they; Held the … Continue reading On That Day That We Died
“We were and then, we weren’t” I summarized my marriage of twenty-five years in my head. Standing over a body that I am performing an autopsy on, I was aware that I wasn’t…at least my thoughts; were unprofessional. I was trained to be alert to the body…to feel something for the humanity that had departed … Continue reading It’s Complicated (1)
Turning it Around – Their Terrors, My Pains, My Gains/ I was possibly the most bullied kid I knew and for years, I used to shy away from the pains I endured in my preteen years. Recently though, as I began to realize how much my story could draw attention to the issues of bullying … Continue reading Me and My Bullies: A True Story
If the gods have spoken Why then do we war for them? Come my brother A grievous thing burdens my heart I say we have been wronged Robbed by our gods You ask me to speak no more I sigh deeply but heavily For I do not want to worship empty metals No … Continue reading Speaking Gods
The gods are silent when the drums are dusty No music is harped Tired the flutist Tired the dancers Dust clad spectators are weary When an angry god abandons the priest Every way leads home An abomination came upon the land of Ijado They believed in a man rather than the prophecies The elders are … Continue reading The gods are Silent
A Fresh Look at the Nigerian laws And Cultures. Many true life child abandonment scenarios: A new born baby is found abandoned in the bush. A new born baby is found dead in an old pit toilet. A new born baby wrapped in a leather bag and dropped off on the road is crushed to … Continue reading Abortion – a Better Alternative to Child Abandonment?
To aid understanding of this poem, I’d like to add that, the departed was autistic (according to the doctors) I Time stood still as I stood still. A second time in a season Death came and once again, It defiled our invisibility. II Who would sing for you? In life you sang a chorus … Continue reading On Dinma’s Death…
Ruffled Gucci bags, Prada shoes, Versace gowns and a Chanel jacket, Dior spectacles; I even got a pricey pair of jean from the House of Deron! My goodness. I love my Beyonce. I love her so much that I equally included three of her fragrances in my shopping list and here, I carry them in … Continue reading Die Another Day
Character: Okonkwo Book: Things fall Apart(1958) Author: Chinua Achebe To understand where we are, it is most important that we understand where we have been and in the character of Okonkwo, we see this relevance. Okonkwo is a Janus-faced character in the book. Why do I say Janus-faced? I mean a character who holds … Continue reading Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart
The first poem isn’t long enough to stand on its own so, I had to add the second poem. They’re not in any way connected. ODE TO A MUTILATED HEART. A puzzled frown then, a delightful smile Higher the pursuit, the lower the resolve Finally, a sudden crash Crash to a conquerors bosom. Stereotyped … Continue reading Ode to a Mutilated Heart.
Growing up as a young girl, I dreamt of graduating with nothing lower than a second class result, get a good job in a ministry here in Lagos and be married before my thirtieth birthday, to a man I would have a comfortable life with. I can now say that fate must have been pleased … Continue reading Umuada Reminisces (Short story)
A friend so much called, A friend no more To fill the void And bring the joy to shore. I remember the laughter The footprints on the banks of the river The unhappy bent stumps of trees As along the banks and woods we flew. Life is but a lonely shadow Moving like … Continue reading Goodnight
Whenever I hear that my girlfriend is about to get married, I usually begin to suffer panic attacks. I had previously seen doctors but there was just no medical explanation for it and since Nigeria isn’t big on psychologists, I didn’t know where else to go to… never mind that, I couldn’t let anyone poke … Continue reading Marriage and Me Equals Panic Attacks
We were not an extended family living together, ours were nuclear units which usually gathered during holidays to celebrate our blood relationships. It used to be the reason why our holidays were never boring but these holidays, however beautiful they were; would never hold again. At least, not in any sincerity. This is our story … Continue reading The Preacher Woman