Benjamin Nambu

Powered by: WordPress
Powered by: WordPress

Her name is Samira

My weakness was that I couldn’t be discreet. Which was why when I fell in love with the cook, the affair was like an open secret. Was it love? I couldn’t tell what label to put on a mixture of lust, loneliness and desperation. She didn’t resist my advances, neither did she give me the…
Filthy, bloody hands

wolves hide in beautiful sheep clothingigniting senseless wars in the Name of God How dare you stain the Holy Name of God with your filthy, bloody hands? God does not hire anyone to fight His battlesHe has an innumerable army of angels at His command His pleasure is to see brothers and sisters live in…
He is risen -Happy Easter!

never heard of a lambthat served as a lampguiding the feet of men and of women off the paths of hell the prophets of old did predictthat his death will reverse the evil verdictsin has brought upon usif the promise of eternal life were a lieHe would not riseand our faith would be in vainand…
fishing in new waters

Flies. They wouldn’t let the sores of a dog be. And the poor dog is forced to stay in motion to ward them off, all along jerking, flicking, tossing its head -all the frantic head shakes its creative mind could conjure. And yet, the savage flies pursue with renewed sadistic zeal. The dog stops and…
they’ll see you rise

like the sun they’ll see you risethe fake, foes and fraudsters who sawyou weep, crawl and beg will falltheir faces abraded likemetal gods scrubbed with wire gauze here, no vest is bulletproofjust bodies taking in bulletstill they feel tipsy and staggeran unsettling truthmakes the most vocal stutter but this is the furnace in which the…
Refuse to bend

life wields a set of unfortunate incidents into a powerful anvil against which I am being struck the strikes are persistent and slow, draining me of every urge to hold on the clinical, persistent strikes linger, my resilience is a palpable mass of bleeding mess It pays to be patientbut patience is difficult to masterrequires…
We always smell it from afar

Back then, we knew nothing about sexual harassment. All we knew was that teacher Musah loved Mansa and we all envied her whenever she walked about the school head high like a princess. Many ugly girls in the school winced at the thought of not having half her beauty. That Mansa was a minor, we…
Red wine

For me, red wine is symbolic of pleasant memories. It was a windy Sunday afternoon in late December. I did not go to church that day. My habit whenever I didn’t have money for offertory. Or felt guilty of a secret sin. Feeling bored, I lay in my room on my little mattress spread on…
Default mode

when the path ahead is shrouded in fogsome resort to motivation woven into songsor written on wallsto help calm their fearsfor us, inspirationis written on our genesLike instincts written into the minds of insectsnever-giving up is our default modeworking in silence the codeeven when we’re brokewe’re still paying the price of victory
lessons

hard lessons, written down for revisionsyet everyday it seems the lessons never endand writing seems futilemistakes too many to noteand the chance to apply lessons learnt never seems to comenew mistakes, new lessons everyday looks like circumstances are constantly updating themselves patterns too complex for me to figure the trickthrown away my lesson booksperhaps I…
Noise

She keeps talking and distracting my thoughts, and doesn’t seem to notice the cues I keep dropping to indicate it’s not a good time for chitchat. My approach has always been indirect when it comes to telling people things they won’t be comfortable hearing. But in my mind, the message sits there, in its crude…
While it rained

It was raining heavily. I sat on the floor, my back against the bed, staring through the open window at the palm fronds swaying in the strong winds. The room still had a bit of the afternoon warmth, which was yet to give way to the cold outside. I thought of my flatmate who was…
just a novice

just a novicetrying to be noticedsometimes this feels likea waste of timetoo many stars in the skyno space for mine to shineeven if it glitteredwho cares?been waiting for my timeas if waiting for a bell to be chimedor probably it has gone off already And I was too deaf to hear it ringing
Happy Eid Mubarak ❤️

the sun beatsthe drums beatso much heatso many feastsso much wasteso much hastein so tight a spaceas the sun beatsand the world heatslet us prayfor more peacein this Eidand the coming weeks
Sometimes

Sometimes I wonderwhy good things worth havingrequire so much work, so much effortsometimes when the going gets toughI envy the deadwho have no more worries to think aboutBut when times turn betterI look back and reflect on the good things I would have missed if I were no more
They all know

From the moment the cup is handed to one of them, they all know that the recipient is going to be the hitsong maker of that year. They never had disagreements among themselves like other categories of artists were fond of doing on social media, and were always cited as role models, until a video…
Her late husband

She believed he always loved her. They had little misunderstandings like every other couple, but it was never the kind that escalated into an acrimony that involved the external family, something that threatened a breakup. And many could attest to how he was so fond of her. He wasn’t a billionaire, but he did everything…
The tricky top

seems simple stepsthese tedious tasksthese tragic trekspacked phony pathssuch savage slopesslow stressful streakshurt hollow hopeswild windy weeksdark doleful daysmad mystic mazeposh pleasant peak https://wp.me/paf3ao-mTO
The rocks and the trees have become one

on this mountainthe trees,like tourists,come and gobut the rocks never diethey’ve been lying here watching the once mighty waterfallage and shrink even the tallest of trees come and gonone lives foreverthe rocksthey have always been here from the beginningbut the presence of the invading treeshave left marks on the mighty rockslike signatures of passing timeset in…
There will be bloodshed

He predicted that there will be bloodshed. Nothing like the nation ever saw. A few months after his wild predictions, he died. Nobody thought much about him or his prophecies of doom. Until ten years later. The first of his predictions was slowly turning into reality, like the seedling of a young plant indistinguishable from…
boredom is a blessing

boredom is a blessingfertile grounds for sowingconsistent habits into daily routines just aseverything has a nameso doeseverything has its place just aseveryone has their tastesso doeseveryone has their pace soevery time you face delaysin your hasty climb to famejustlock your focus onto that Rock of AgesWho never fails, never shames, never wanes
She imagines

She imagines what it means to have a mother. Hers died while bringing her into the world. Like some marathon, she was handed the baton. And here she was, wondering what this race is all about. She recalls the many times she’s hanged unto someone she considered a mom. It didn’t take long to see…
The watch uncle gave me

Mother had traveled. And upon returning, she brought me a toy phone and a wrist watch. Gifts from Uncle T. Normally, uncle would be called on the phone for me to say ‘thank you’ to him. But phones were not common those days, and my parents didn’t have one. Imagine my joy having a phone…
watching the experts

I sat on my bed watching from my laptop on a bedside table, occasionally worried if the volume disturbed my neighbors who lived next room. Something was on my mind : will these people be advocating for fidelity in relationships if theirs were so thorny with complications that they couldn’t wait to be out of…
words said into young ears

there’s this poem I read in childhoodabout looking up to oneself in all thingsI remember the principal telling us boyswhile interpreting the poemthat people who never intend helping you financiallyalways say “Oh, I just gave out my money to X”“I would have helped if you asked earlier.”we giggled, thinking it was a funny tale he…
Mouchidath and Yasa

From our conversations, I inferred that she wanted to marry someone older than she was, someone more financially stable. I was surprised she thought of giving Yasa a chance. Yasa was much younger. Perhaps it was because he had money. I wouldn’t say she was materialistic. Yasa had helped her a lot. He got her…
A lonely trip to Tripoli

a lonely trip to Tripoliwhere abandoned motel light bulbs dangle in violent windslike the balls of a bull in motioncasting concrete eerie shadowson squeaky doors with no keysscreaming softlyas if mourning the death of a once buoyant city a lone guitarist plays for the listening windsmessages that never reach the earsof the sleeping, heaving wavesof…
God is watching …

Sometimes it feels some people have turned themselves into GodDeciding what is right and what is wrongDeciding who should live and who should dieMany imposters may try to play GodBut that role is too big to be filled by any pair of buttsGod sees everythingHe hears everythingThe worst a mortal can do is kill another…
The still small voice

a still small voicespeaking to you in what seems likeyour own voiceyour own thoughts Nudging you to let goof the water slipping out of your clenched fistof hard efforts that have come to nothing a still small voicethat’s always lived with youinvisible like the windstealth like movements in the dark yet each time it speaksit’s…
I will get there

I munch food noisily. Not deliberately. Naturally. I did not know this. I’ve been living alone and I had never paid attention. Until I found myself at a dinner, in the midst of respectable people, with no music to mask anything. The discovery was embarrassing. There and then I had to practice eating in a…
Butukwen and his mother

Her son had a challenge. Physically, he was alright. Mentally, he was unstable, couldn’t sit at one place and behaved more like a toddler for his age. Personally, I felt his mother should have looked for a personal teacher for him, a teacher who taught him at home. Or maybe, the school should have separate…
This too shall pass

We all acted ok, but deep down things looked bleak. My friend was sick, and I could see that though we were both broke, his situation was worse. He had no money, no food, nothing to buy even a leaf to cure himself. The note in my pocket was my last flour and oil to…
Sack of trouble

Outside were parked beautiful cars belonging to students, and the entrance of the new hostel was busy with students moving in and out. Some from shopping malls holding with them fancy shopping bags loaded with provisions, others were moving in, aided by the porters who carried their fridges, microwave ovens or giant fluffy teddy bears…
Tension

The receptionists were new. I exploited their inability to distinguish guests from staff. Slowly, I approach their desk. A stranger desperate to bypass them without being checked will try hurrying past while they were attending to some visitors, and this usually aroused their suspicions. I’ve been observing all this from a distance. And so, I…
Life in Northern Ghana 1/10

Many who have lived all their lives in southern Ghana assume people from northern Ghana speak one language, are predominantly Muslims, have access to powerful magical charms, know one another’s hometowns, are troublesome by nature, live in primitive houses and practice primitive customs, eat weird food, and have parents who arrange marriages for children. Such…
The new preacher

I stared at the WhatsApp post for a while. Of course I recognized the face. An old classmate. Lost touch with him since we completed school many years ago. Here he was, on the WhatsApp status of a close friend, posing as a preacher. I found it hard to accept the change. That boy has…
Last time I saw Uncle Maduk

The last time I saw Uncle Maduk, he told me he knew he wasn’t going to survive the operation, and that by the time I am back for the next holidays, he might be no more. He thanked me for constantly paying him visits, bringing him fruits despite the rumors that he was an evil…
Expedition to Mango heights

It was a long wall along a busy road. We stood by the wall, waiting, patiently. There always came a moment the busy road became quiet, kind of deserted. The very moment we were looking forward to. Ali bent, I stood on his bent back, and yet couldn’t properly reach the top of the wall.…
At the prayer grounds

You see all kinds of things at the prayer grounds. Done praying. And as I gather my mat and double my steps through the thick bushes, I contemplate on the porridge in my locker that I intended using to break my fast, my thoughts distracted by the diverse prayer groups dispersed under various trees on…
Get a mirror

It’s easy to sometimes think you’re superhuman.But a mirror will reveal your protruding stomach,hunched posture, and bushy beard that makes you look more like an ape turning into man than the superman you think you are. A mirror will show you yellowing canines, an awkward style of pursing your lips, skin defects that need attention,…
They say you’re not good

they say you’re not goodthat you’re a hypocritea wolf in sheepskin they say you’re a disappointmentyou had so much potentialbut what are you today?a burdena watered seed that never germinatesyour gardeners are agingperhaps it’s strangers that will reap their toil but youwhat have you got to say about yourself?you’ve been silentsilently workingopening up your sores,…
For how long?

Today you have the power to squash someone underneath your toe. But the human spirit is unlike the body of an insect. It’s tough, refuses to die, keep coming, and will always strike back. Imagine the spirit of an entire nation. What is the sense in abusing power? No matter how powerful you are, how…
Thick clouds are gathering

Thick clouds are gatheringAmidst occasional rumblingsAnd chilly winds mixed with the departing warmthJubilant crows circle in the sky In a corner of the sky, sun rays leakThrough a crack in the clouds Sweat from perspiring clouds in motionDrip on my face, I hurry to a shelter I watch the crows now sitting silently on nearby…
Complicated

Where is the balance between revealing your true thoughts on sensitive matters to those in your inner circle you really trust and being yourself without caring what people think? No matter how religious our upbringing was, there always comes a time in our growth process that we encounter things that force us to question and…
No shortcuts to maturity

The temptation to use a shortcut to a desired destination will always be there, like a seductive prompt, ticking like a clock, ticking your thoughts into confused contemplation. But like Rick Warren once said, there are no shortcuts to maturity. Obstacles force the mind to become multidimensional in its view, in its analysis, gaining insights…
Note to self

She looks like she doesn’t know anything. I wouldn’t say she’s an idiot. Maybe she is. Perhaps I might get to know something positive about her if I draw closer. Wasn’t particularly surprised at what Itaka told me yesterday. She’s descending the stairs. I smile and greet. Only if she knew what I was thinking.…
Another rengay with ❤️David❤️

I strongly believe we can do so much by harnessing our energies, by putting ideas and efforts together. It’s a beautiful thing participating in picture prompts like the one by Sadje every Monday. And when writers reach out to other writers for collaboration, fireworks happen. It was such an honour participating in another rengay with…
Growth

How do I know I am growing? It’s when I no more derive satisfaction from smashing old obstacles. Something inside yearns for a bigger mountain. But new mountains are not always fun to climb. There are some you’ll keep circling and circling for a long time before finding an opening to begin your first foot…
The best employer

The best employer is a challenging life, it pays well more than any other. A challenging life is unpredictable, full of uncertainties. It can fire you at any moment, it can announce your promotion when you least expect it. That’s why many employees there tender in their resignations day in day out. A challenging life…
New year, same motions?

She asked if I haven’t become tired of the motions of 31st all-night church services where new year resolutions and prayers are made for a year that promises much but delivers nothing. Perhaps, frustrations were providing her the lens to see things with such clarity. I try to cheer her up by saying a consistent…
Only believe

I’ve come to what seems like my endwhere patched hopes refuse to mendbarriers refuse to bendthe raging sea in my pathrefuses to part and all I hear in the midst of the rising tidesis a still small voice reminding meto only believe Holding onfeels like waiting for stones to ripenI do not know if I…
In the shadows

In the shadows of every shadeAn unseen plaque with the nameOf a thoughtful sower In the success of many homesThe unheard creaking bonesOf a thoughtful shoulder Same sower and seed scenarioReplayed, retoldWisdom, wasting, waitingTo be emulated
Dawn prayers

Was woken up at dawn. Had to listen for a while before I knew what the noise was all about. Dawn prayers. At this point they were in the middle of a sermon. Was about to return to my sleep when I heard something amusing. The preacher was talking about how we black people are…
Mother’s ritual

Mother and her syringe. Colourful symbols of my childhood. As I reflect on the past, I see my legs high up in the air, suspended by mom’s left hand while her right held the syringe filled with a herbal mixture. First, I am bent over, the syringe is inserted into my anus, and the green…
Listening to Enya

Hit songs are addictive, forcing us to put them on replay mode for days. With time, the punch lines in the lyrics lose their energy and sparkle, the funny jokes in the songs become dry.I used to think this was the cycle of every good song until I came across some masterpieces. It was December…
bending bars

the opening line of a new poem comes to mindI write it down impressiveinspiringout of the blue I think of what should followseveral attempts, no progressI doze off, wake up, continueputting many activities on hold still no progresscan’t think of a sensible continuation frustration days pass byI sit, rise, pace, take a break, return, take…
gods of justice in their element

chunks of gingerthat have missed the teeth of a blenderhave found their way into Mom’s soupDisguised among the chunks of smoked fish and salted meatawaiting an unsuspecting victimwhose feet are tiptoeing towards the kitchengently opening the doorlistening hard for mom’s voice which is busy in the living room shouting on some sordid character on TVTV…
Good bye my friend

Today my heart is saddened. News. Of the loss of a close friend. How strange she would have found it, seeing posters of herself on walls of houses and electric poles, and on WhatsApp statuses. Obituary. If only she could see it all coming. Just last year we were home together, I unemployed, and she,…
The restaurant at the foot of a hill

The restaurant stood at the foot of a hill. I had passed there several times without noticing it, partly because I was new to the area. Initially, I was skeptical about the quality of their meals. But they gave me good reasons to become a regular customer. Lunch time, you were sure to find me…
Termite mound, the story of persistance

I have witnessed mankind’s countless fruitless efforts to destroy termite mounds. Slash down the mounds, the termites rebuild. Slash again, the termites rebuild and rebuild. You hit them, they keep coming. Tiny insects, of which five can be squashed under the thumb of a human, build giant houses for themselves, houses sometimes taller than the…
Single mom

Single mom, with two children, from different fathers. From a distance, you might think she’s promiscuous, or deserved what she got, or wasn’t smart enough. Draw closer, hear her out. You’ll realize it could have been you, or any other person who never wished to end up there. When we meet a romantic partner, with…
Snow-capped mountains

Snow-capped mountainsSnaky pathsSoldiers thrudging through themLike driver antsMiles from homeLonging for all the little pleasures back homeThey once took for grantedSome mutter words to a rosary on their neck,Some chutter indistinct sounds to curved figures in their handsSome kiss amidst tears photos of loved oneswounded or blown apartThey hope a piece of them will returnTo…
The good old days

Back then our TVs used antennae usually tied to some little pole nailed to roofs of houses, and for some strange reasons, it was always in the middle of a movie or football match, when the action was intensely suspenseful, that there would be a sudden community-wide power outage, a blackout that blackened our hearts…
We are one family

Like two tough bulls, two men are locked in a game of draughts under the shade of a baobab tree, surrounded by a cocktail of nationalities, so typical of crowds in West Africa’s Ivory Coast. Friends and passersby watch in suspense against a backdrop of Zouglou music playing from a bar nearby. The game ends.…
dry your tears

He’s asked that she dry her tears and smilebut how can she, in the midst of so much pain?while they talk, she’s distractedby the singing of her patientsa favorite song of her lover gone on a long journeywhose many letters have trickled to a fewthe song comes to herlike some lonesome puppy recognizing its master…
The letter to Daouda

she thought she carried good newsshe’s been sent to deliver a lettershe, an illiteratethere in his office she stoodwaiting for him to read and replythe wilting joy on the face of the readertells her something isn’t rightslowly, the initial smile on his face fermentsinto a sad, bitter face, polluting her initial joy tooshe waits as…
The anus of a fowl

He was planted among us on purpose, but we did not know. He came across as honest, complaining just like the rest of us of the hardships we all faced. We assumed he was one of us. It started with my resignation. He was the first to call. I still remember where I was when…
Fireworks and chilly winds

fireworks, chilly windsI lay in bed, lying on my sidefacing the open windowa moonless sky lit with sparkling starsChristmas is a month awaybut I can smell it miles awaythinkingof all the thingsand peoplethat have come and gonethinkingof my life nowand what is to come ………………………………………………….. Email:Benjaminnambu1@gmail.com WhatsApp:+233 541 824 839
To those who never lived

How do babies of complicated pregnancies that necessitated an abortion feel? Do they ask God why others are given a chance to live while they are not? Is there a special planet for those little sweet souls to have a taste of life on Earth? Those aborted because their parents did not need them in…
Born for a prince

When we are growing up, we have these grand illusions of what we wanna be, places we want to go and whom we want to marry. Many of these illusions are birthed and kept alive by movies we’ve watched, a favorite song, some picture in a newspaper, book or magazine, spiced by our imaginations. At…
to the hospital

It’s my birthday. Unfortunately, I will be spending it in the hospital. Following my instincts, I do not leave early. Which is something nobody would do. Because, our hospitals are famous for having too many patients than any number of doctors can handle.Patients tend to rise early to make it to the hospital on time.…
songs of a folktale

all eyes on the new moonas we sang, clapped and dancedsongs of a folktale about the moon and the sunmotherswho decided to slaughter their children for a meal during a famineThe sun was the first, sacrificing her children but the wise moon loved her children and wouldn’t when it was her turnThe furious sun now…
Why can’t we all live in peace?

God scatters sweet little innocent children like seeds into the world to be gifts and blessings. I wonder what some of them are fed that makes them germinate into devils that won’t let humanity sleep soundly at night. Or, maybe the universe is allergic to peace? All that comes out of a war factory is…
first TV in my village

The first person to buy a television in my village was the envy of village gossipers for months. Clansmen who lived in distant places heard of the new wonder. The excitement in the village was electrifying. The man at the center of the news was a womanizer. Imagine how easily he magnetized desperate women longing…
Traces of the virus

I used to crave for attention. I would do anything to get it, although at the time I didn’t realize it was an obsession, tainted with subtle pride. It started in my childhood when a neighbor’s wife used to call my brother and send him on errands. She would sometimes give him gifts for being…
Wandering in the woods

A quiet afternoon. Two lovers drift into woods nearby. Intermittent giggling echoes through trees as they run on, as if to escape the prying eyes of the sun searching through trees swaying in the late Friday afternoon winds. It looked dangerous from outside. Now that they were inside the jungle, they saw things differently. The…
sticks in my ears

a wet rug was placed over the hot lantern chimneywhen the rug had soaked up enough heat and could no longer breatheit was placed over the fresh wound on my legI squirmed, screamed and tossed in painThick arms gripped me, so that the wet, hot rug could engage in a long lick of my woundmother’s…
Let them

let them speak evil behind your backlet them have the wrong impressions of youlet them plot and schemehoping to lure you into senseless argumentslet them criticizebelittle you, underrate youlet them talk, those who seem to know betterdishing out advice to situations they know little about stay calmin the midst of the noisehold your peacein the…
Irony

They say knowledge should be free, that some people can’t afford. And to put that sermon into practice, websites are set up where thousands of free books are available for download, a free download of books others have toiled to write and raise money for their publication and reprints. The irony? The same websites will…
End of play

We had been rehearsing for weeks, although I had no clue what it all meant and for what occasion. But from the repeated motions day in day out, I figured out some pieces of the puzzle : it was a play about a baby who was to be visited by shepherds. Who this baby was…
Sick with the quagmire

you’ll sing better songsthis thirst for changewill make you drink ideas till you’re drunknobody reaches the heights you’re aiming for sobermany your kind have been hereit’s the same ancient pathdifferent faces, same heart ……………………………………………………. Email:Benjaminnambu1@gmail.com WhatsApp: +233 541 824 839
Blind plants

Plants are like blind servants. They stand at one place all their lives with arms stretched out, with their roots, stems, leaves, fruits and any other thing they can offer on the tray to serve humanity. When our water bodies are polluted from chemicals like those used in mining minerals in water bodies, the blind…
wake every beast

honed every skilltried every trickcombed every streetwoke every beastcrossed every seatossed every diceate every lielicked every woundpaid every duesplayed every tunedealt every cardtook every chanceknocked every doorfought every dogticked every box yet for all my effortsa harvest of winds but I keep pressing onunrelentingly https://wp.me/paf3ao-m3z
Survive this test

Rise above these dark momentsRise above these harsh currentsRise above these insults that hurtRise above the confusing twistsThe humanizing treatsAnd temporary defeats Survive this testYou were designed to outlastAnd outlive this floodBe an inspiration to the rest Refuse to stay downWield these stormsInto reservoirs of strengthWeave this lossInto beautiful songs ………………………………………………….. Email:Benjaminnambu1@gmail.com WhatsApp: +233 541…
Gone with the wind

There are days nothing spectacular happen in our lives. Just routines. And yet one day we look back, and miss those ordinary times. Like I am looking back right now and seeing myself beside a tomato farm right behind our school wall. Almost everyday, while teaching in a classroom on the last floor, I stole…
It is easy to assume they’re partial

From a distance, it is easy to assume they are partial. But when you get a chance to walk in their shoes, and perhaps put on their clothes, you understand why they sometimes complain of heat when the weather appears cold. When I was in basic school, I noticed how our class teacher gave what…
Movements and changes

Things are different here. I have left the city for a small town, what else could I expect? It takes time to make new friends, and if you’re a student in a higher level of education, it’s not easy finding someone on the same mental wavelength. There is this question of being “humble” and mingling…
A formula for political success

Politicians are good at studying the mood of the citizenry to craft messages that resonate with the masses. In Africa for instance, many people blame their political leaders for being puppets of western governments. A true leader of the people is one who is bent on industrializing the country, thus creating jobs, alleviating poverty, reducing…
The lone bird is done singing

The lone bird is done singing,and the migratory season is here.It has joined its clanto sail across the sky,to a new land. We cannot help but keep lookingwhere it once stood, singing.The lone bird is no more,only echoes of its voice. Like nicknamesof old high school friendsheld together in indelible inkagainst fading classroom walls,your name…
Bleak house

Already, they were suspicious. So, my going there was a gamble. Part of my reason for going there was to gain their trust. That was why when they offered me a meal, I did not hesitate to thank them and head towards the dinning table. They had eaten already, so I was the only one…
Love ripens slowly

Love ripens slowlyBonds deepen softlyAnd I, with my impatienceHave ruined many opportunitiesLike some black sheepdressed in greenTo light up the screenFor all to see InexperienceAnd the lack of humility to learnTwo rodentsThat have ruined many beautiful beginnings https://wp.me/paf3ao-lZh
The view from the narrow path

there is a kind of insightthat only the aged can better appreciate there is a confidencethat only the masters exude there is a joythat only those who appreciate the simple pleasures of life find there is a forcethat only those who have stayed down for far too long and are determined to rise, can emit…
Nether regions of unfathomable defeat

I was always broke. And lonely. For four solid years. Just when I was headed straight for a bright new dawn at the end of the tunnel, I made a wrong move that sent me spiraling past the beginning of my tunnel into nether regions of unfathomable defeat. The morning of that unforgettable Monday it…
J.P

At first, it all sounded like some distant dream, something happening very far away. But the whispering intensified, so did the shuffling of feet. The whisperer now seemed to be standing over me, beside the floor where I lay, mumbling and spitting indiscriminately. I awoke. The dream seemed familiar, but I couldn’t remember the first…
Mother

Mother,your sacrificesare unforgettablelike the lines and prints in my palms You saw valuein a premature babyAn infant many would have abandonedYou traveled in every direction for healersin search of herbal doctors to cure your son What many would have rejectedYou nurtured into a full grown man like me You were the colorin my colorful ChristmasesIf…
This nosy Tijani of ours

Watching him from the summer hut under which we grilled meat and prepared drinks to be served to customers reminded me of spy movies I watched a long time ago. He looked like a spy. Or maybe he was one. One could never be sure. We could predict when he’ll come, the things he was…
Madmen in my village

There used to be just two madmen in my village when I was a kid. Everyone knew them, and parents used their names to scare children into taking their baths and being good. I still remember their names : Mallam Moro and Yawele. Recently as I thought about their names, it occurred to me that…
Thank you, David🙏

I had the opportunity of writing a rengay with David and it was fun. It was my first time writing one, and frankly I had never heard of the term. But David explained it to me and the rules governing these kinds of poems. It was initially challenging for me to think of saying much…
The psychologist

She said she couldn’t see anything in her dreams whenever she slept in a dark room. The lights must be on before she could make sense of anything in her dreams. “You mean when the lights in your room are out, there is neither sunshine or any ray of light in your dreams? “ the…
Holidays

Whenever we were caught up with so much work in the office, we longed for public holidays. Then like rain on thirsty lands, we receive some update on a WhatsApp platform or online news website: some public holiday had been announced and was lurking behind the uninformed, waiting to see their surprised looks and giggles…