Eleven years old.
Skin stuck to her bones.
Can’t afford to get a cold.
Can’t even stand on her own.

Fan spinning fast but
still drowns in her sweat.
Can never stay awake.
She sleeps with all at stake.

As these red soldiers
mount our chests,
Let us pray for those
whose tomorrow may be worse than today.

His money isn't free.
On the first date,
He picked you up in a Phantom
which haunted your inner gold-digger
Digging to harvest stardom, but
His money isn't free.
He's wearing a Rolex
You're wearing a Swatch wrist
Hoping to switch wrists.
It's much too sad that
His money isn't free.
He's harvested his cotton
And you're ready to rob him
But his ex keeps calling
Little Miss Lee Kaching!
She can sense your scheming;
she screams through the speakerphone,
"His money isn't free!"
Now he's seen
your blades, your spades, your grenades
hidden in the dark of your shade.
He's grabbing those keys
Leaving his seat saying,
"My money isn't free!"
Now you're left alone
With your flip phone,
Not even an iPhone.
And the waiter comes by,
Drops the bill and says,
"This meal isn't free."

Can I touch your hair?
No.

Neglecting that I have no knowledge of
the sanitation of your hands
Nor am I in the mood for questions
I do not hold the answers to.

My hair speaks of a thousand stories
you will not appreciate.
My hair speaks for millions of women
Darkened by birth or sun.

So no, you can’t touch my hair.

Arise all people who heed our call
For our nation’s girls are about to fall.
Heard are their cries
From thousands of miles.
So let us ride to Chibok,
Mounted on horses in bulk.

Your retweets and hashtags will not save them!
We need more than goodluck and patience!
We need more prayers and action!
Indeed, we shall meet them in battle!

When shall we Bring Back Our Girls?
When the campaign becomes Bring Back Our Women?

Have you ever imagined the horrors of being driven in a sleek Land Cruiser that is the definition of 'noire'? When the car doors are locked, so is your mind and your eyes are as tinted ad the windows.
I gaze out at the beggars stretching their sun-dried palms to me asking for a minute portion of the price of my fountain pen. The stretch of desperate beggars go on for nearly ninety kilometres. I can see it in their shiny, burnt eyes that they pray for 'Goodluck.' I do not speak only of financial beggars but also of beggars of national progress. This includes me hidden behind the tinted windows.

Why so ignorant?
Why so naive?
Why so blind?
You fill my eyes with fury.
Even though I feel this way,
My mindset, I shall not betray.
Because at the end of the day
What have you accomplished?
Homes demolished
Lives diminished.
You’ve scarred the young children,
Widowed the young women,
And caused regret for the old.
Where are our men?
In a pile in a forest.
Now tell me again,
What were you trying to accomplish?

Whatever it was,
You Lost.

Day after day,
                                                           His sun-dried palms stretch out
towards the tinted windows of
cars worth more than ten years of his school fees.

Some day.
Behind the tinted windows
Could be Alakija or Sanusi,
Dangote or Saraki.
Maybe some    day.

But Today,
Behind the Tinted Window,
Was just another Lagos Big Girl.
Thankfully, a rough N200 note
Created fiction with his palm.

He needs only N300 more
He has been saving up for his WAEC forms.
He is going to get A1s across his report.

Ese gan, ma but E jo, more money? My WAEC-
You’re ungrateful! All you can do is beg!
And she was once again hidden
Behind the Tinted Window.

She turned to her daughter,
How much do you want for the D’banj concert?
Twenty five thousand, Mummy.
Bands of money placed in the hands of a girl
the same age as the beggar.


Once again,
A Lagos Big Habit
Passed onto another generation.

She may die soon of fatal attraction.
She’s become the ‘Heartbroken Heartbreaker.’
Maybe now, you’ve got her beat
But remember,
A dead shark still has sharp teeth.

My Silence is Loud
The humming of the generator
Along with the whispers of the crowd,
The gentle breeze snores
Along with clapping of the doors.

My Silence is Loud
The humming of the Death
Along with the whispers of Deceit,
Ancient Honour snores
Along with clapping of the Time.

Colour my eyes the brightest colour there is,
Paint my lips any colour you want,
Write poetry in place of my skin.
But don’t let anyone else read me.

You made me
Breathless

The way you stole my heart;
Effortless

Every night, you left me
Sleepless

I thought our love was
Timeless

But you made me feel
Faceless

You left my heart
Homeless

You left me on the ground,
Loveless.

There was once a lady in the Rose garden
Who committed a beautiful sin.
She swore to love the roses with all her heart
But had her eyes open as she kissed the oath.
For better or worse, she tried to escape the garden.
Instantly, the thorns passionately struck her throat
And her body heavily caressed the handsome ground.
The rose stem slowly embraced her into effervescence.

There was once, and only once, a lady in the rose garden.

Oh, she used to smile. That smile.
That smile that could light up the entire world.
That smile that could win a Nobel Peace Prize.
That smile that could make someone blind.
She was so happy; or was she?
That smile was her Mask.
Her way of hiding from the world.

She smiled that real fake smile.
That smile that could knock a boy off his feet.
That smile that could advertise Colgate.
That smile that could save the depressed.
Or was she the one who was depressed?

At night, that smile turns to a needle;
Pricking her everywhere.
Her lips, her arms, her thighs
but especially her eyes.
Each ***** and it bleeds.
Her eyes bleed tears but
her wrists bleed blood.

Now, her lips are sewn together,
Slow to bulge.
They ask her,
“Why don’t you smile anymore?”
She stares coldly at them,
Almost in a confused manner.
Then she answers them,
“You let me fall.”

On Sunday,
A boy stood under my window.
His smile,
White as the walls,
I was trapped behind.
‘Just one touch’,
I begged
And I found my way out.

Boy and I strolled through the park.
We talked about our interests
And I felt that spark.
Gave me a Red Flower,
Said it was his Love for me.
Gave him a White Flower,
Said it was my Purity.

Boy turned to Man
And Red Flower died.
Never had I seen hands move that fast.
Never had I felt such pain in life.
That was the night
White Flower died.

Sunday came again,
Another stood under my window.
His smile,
White as the walls,
I was trapped behind.
‘Don’t let him touch me’,
I begged
And I locked myself in.

We are all black roses
The only thing is
Some of us were born that way
And some were burnt.

Make the corset tighter!
For he already took my breath away.

Mark my lips ****!
For he's already seen my heart naked.

Raise my hair to the heavens!
For my head is already in the clouds.

Don't get make-up on the dress!
For I've already made my mark on him.

Slip the promise on my finger!
For I'm getting married today.

How could one say I asked for it?
I was hidden, covered and sealed.
Just like mother had taught me.

In spite of my struggle to retain my innocence,
He knew what he wanted
And he succeeded in getting it.

Violated, Degraded and humiliated.
Worst of all, silenced
Therefore, ruined.

Though you corrupted me.
I shall heal.
Though you destroyed my trust,
I shall love.
Though you killed me,
I shall live on.

I dreamt of you last night
Right after our big fight.
Emerald grass, sky’s blue.
No view matters but you.
Looking like passion’s fruit
Dapper in a sharp suit.
You hand me a bouquet
That will never decay.
Your skin no longer glows
And then your fake smile shows.
Before me, you transform
Your jeans below your ***.
In that moment I knew,
I’m only in love with the thought of you.

Time fills Love’s cup with lies,
As Love tells me it will be alright.
Time fills Desire’s cup with lies,
As Desire tells me it’s what I want.
Time fills their cups with lies,
As Hatred and Envy say they care.
Time fills my cup with lies,
And tells me to turn my head right.
Time fills my cup with lies,
And tells me there’s no one there.
Time fills my cup with lies,
And I say I’m not scared.
Time fills his cup with lies
And Fear knocks it over,
“Time fills your cup with lies
His words you must not sip.”
Time drops the entire *** in front of me
And tells me not to listen to Fear.

But I know Death sits on my right
Waiting for the moment I sip those lies.

Leave it alone!
Let my poor heart rest
All it does is pump blood
It isn’t guilty of the accused.
It isn’t responsible
For my love,
For my heartbreak,
For my smile,
For my tears.
What did my poor heart
Ever do to you?
Just leave it alone
And let it find peace.

If my fingers traced your mind
(Like its pages were a book)
Like there was something to find,
Would you treat me like a crook?

Would you throw me against a wall,
Stare deep in my mind
And realise you are blind?

You heard I am a rose laced with ice
You’ve heard right but will you sacrifice
The glorious bounty that is your life
And cut open your shadow with your knife.

There is no punctuation in this story,
We are going to live till our souls get weary.
‘For better, for worse’ is not a myth,
You must stay even if I become a witch.

To be with me, there is no grey
Only black or white or stay at bay.
Love me entirely and don’t let me fall
Or shun me completely and don’t ever call.

Before we fall in love, you must be warned;
We’ll stroll into flames to crumble as one.
In that moment, our love shall not clash;
As two burnt roses become one gust of ash.

Run across the coals with bare feet
Love until you're short a heartbeat
Let all those crazy thoughts slip
Because a sweeter taste than youth, you may not sip.

I
  hoped
             the
                  thoughts
                                  would seep out with the blood.

i am a man
who broke my rib.
in half
right after i said
i love her.

back To The Wall
As his tears Fall.
his Facebook Wall
Is what began his fall.

back To The Wall
As her tears Fall.
Insulting her big bones
Is Worse Than Sticks And Stones.

back To The Wall
As my tears Fall.
What Can i Do
When my head Is In The Loo?

back To The Wall
As our tears Fall.
Invisible In A Crowded Hall
Until we All Hear The Principal’s Call.

Back To The Wall
As Their Tears Fall.
Now They’re out of school
Turns out calling me a fool wasn’t cool.

He begs me to open my fist
Just so he can see it
He doesn’t even need to touch it.
He just needs to know it’s there.

I always kiss him with my fist clenched
He feels its rocky tension in each hug
“Open your fist,” he begs.
But I always simply shake my head.

One day, I was moved by the suffering in his eyes
And I opened my fist.
“Where is it?!” He shook me
Like it would fall out my shadow.

I whisper, “I lent it to someone who never returned it.
I have none left to give you. I’m sorry but I can’t love you.”

i walked.
away from his love.
he threw a grenade
of lust ahead of me.
i was filled with him
instantly.
looking for him
in the daytime with a flashlight.


i should have ran.

One begins to wonder
How the heartbroken
Become the heartbreakers,
How the outspoken
Become the broken,
And how the no-facers
Become the set-pacers.

Date
a poet.

Speak
a language which has
twelve different words for love.

Read
each other’s skin like
Shakespeare’s last sonnet.

See
each other as an
Autumn leaf in summer.

Break
each other into a million pieces,
just so you have better poems to write.

Are you constantly judged
Or do You know what You are and what You aren’t?

Are you an emotional wreck
Or can You control Your emotions as a normal being can?

Were you raised to impress men
Or were You raised to be virtuous and successful?

Are you dependent on a man
Or are You fully dependent on Yourself?

Are you seen as a minority
Or are You major in society?

Are you in pain when bringing new life
Or are You proud to be the only one suitable for the job?

Are your rights stolen from you
Or do You fight for them fiercely?

Do you ever think you are fat and ugly
Or do You know You are insanely beautiful?

Are you seen as an unhappy, bitter creature
Or are You a happy, strong and confident creature?

Are you the stereotypical definition of a woman
Or are You the Real definition of a woman?

The hips of a pear
The bust of an apple
The waist of a banana
The complexion of a peach

Her skin glowing
Her lips bee-stung
Her eyes filled with colour
I can’t lose this view

Forever I will fight for her
Losing her I cannot bear
Her hand slips in mine
And sits comfortably

She is Bey
And I am Jay
She is Kim
And I am Ye

I could look at her all day
But time is slipping away
The sands of the hourglass
Flowing through the waist

Her hair getting greyer
But she’s still young to me
Her face getting wrinkled
But she’s still as beautiful

No matter who dies first?
I would like her to know-
No one else but her.
In heaven, she’s my only angel.

You say the sky is the limit
But it surely isn’t mine
You say I’m arrogant
But I say I’m confident
You say ‘Reach for the stars’
But I’m already out of the Milky Way
You say ‘Write it in the sand’
But I say edge it on the rock
You say I’m a liar
But I say our truths aren’t the same
You say I’m needy
But I say you’re greedy
You say I’m lost
But I say we aren’t on the same path
You say I’m off-beat
But I say we dance to different beats
You say I came last
But I say I ran a different race
You say ‘Don’t compare to the others’
But I say it’s my motivation
Do you know
I like you here
Do you know
You challenge me
Do you know
You counter me
But overall
You comfort me
Because without you
I’d have no victory
And with no victory
What would entertain me?

If only I knew you replied her text,
If only I knew you left when I slept.
If only you knew of what I dreamt
If only you knew your secrets weren’t kept
Maybe then, I’d be able to grasp this concept.

If only you knew what I now know
If only you knew where I’m about to go.
If only I knew how to deal with sorrow
If only I knew some day, I could glow
Only then, around my neck, wouldn’t be a bow.

I loved you before I met you,
But best of all,
You loved me before you felt me.

I don’t understand;
How one can look deep into my eyes
when they are filled with lies;
How one can kiss my cheek
when I have tortured the weak;
How one can hold my waist
when I’ve put my humanity in the waste;
How one can love me
when my own shadow won’t even touch me.

I was awful to you
But I want to make it right today.

I’ll always love you.
Though, I may not say.

I just couldn’t let go of you,
I’ll always want you to stay.

It’s always been you,
Okay?

I want to be the one to help you
Keep that pain away.

I want more than your ‘Day One’,
I want to be your ‘Everyday’.

You can’t smell
The roses that is my skin
You can’t taste
The berries that is my lips
You can’t touch
The pillows that are my thighs
You can’t see
Life behind my eyes
You can’t hear
The honey that is my words
Because for me to love you
Would be absolutely absurd.

I was walking with the birds
then I realised,
why don't we fly?

My pillow is soaked in salt each night.
But when the sun is out, I;
throw up my laughter;
cut open my smile;
erase the red in my eyes.

At night, my pillow is soaked with salt.
I charge my happiness with sorrow.

When my tears grow feet and jump,
Run down my cheeks and dare to drop.
Will you be there to hold the bucket?
Trapping all the memories I’d rather forget?

When my eyes fill with euphoria
And shine like the crown of Victoria.
Will you be there to retain that joy?
Telling me of all I have got to enjoy?

When my ego is poor
And my feet drag across the floor.
Will you be there to change my mind’s course?
Reminding me that someone’s got it worse?

When my cheeks rise
And my heart’s filled with pride.
Will you be there to help me celebrate?
Chasing away all those who hate?

When the light is leaving my eyes
And my skin turns to dust and ice.
Will you be there to say ‘goodbye’?
Or will you be patient on the other side?

You made it to my heart.
Where you found my art
But where is my love?
I swear it was here before.

You made it to my brain.
It was never very sane
But where are my emotions?
Must be on vacation.

You made it to my lips
Where every thought slips
But where is the truth?
I think I’ve lost touch with my roots.

You made it to my eyes
Where I’d seen many goodbyes
What about the ‘hello’s?
I’m sorry but, what are those?

You made it to my ears
I heard lies for so many years
But where are the sweet melodies?
I think they stopped once you left.

I loved you
And I still do.

But a day will come,
Your glass will be filled with ***.
You will be alone at a bar
Yearning for something so far.
A love so far in your past,
You’ve forgotten when you saw it last.
A love so far-off your now,
The thought, your mind can not allow.

And on that same day,
My vase will hold a bouquet.
With my lover,
My heart shall recover
From a love that cut me so deep
That I put my past to sleep.
I will not remember you then
And my mind shall never allow.

I loved you.
You should have loved me too.