“Nawa oh, why you come day do like woman?” — Semilore Kilaso.
the place you address to as home detest seeing the
saltwater washed ashore the lids of your eyes or
when it fills & stream down your sunken cheeks. you
have lost count on how you got drowned in pain while
trying to trap the flooding tears gathering around the
banks of your eyes. or when you nurture the guilt
planted into your mind each time intruders of thought
whisper to you, be a man, you must not bring shame
to your kind. on countless occasions, you have
watched boys like you being thrusted prematurely
unto the laps of adulthood, only to come out older
than the last time you saw them. for how long
would this continue? that you have to wait to be
away from prying eyes to let the cradle of grief
rock you back & forth. when would they understand?
that you are of intricate tissue & rippling blood
& you have a heart that must not bleed beyond repair.
Solomon Timothy Hamza
is an emerging writer who studied Environmental Management at Kaduna State University, Kaduna State. He writes majorly on various aspects of the human life. His works have appeared or forthcoming on Brittle Paper, Nnoko stories Ice Floe Press, PROFWIC Crime Anthology and Fiery Scribe bi-annual Anthology. Aside reading and writing, he enjoys exploring nature and listening to music. Solomon Timothy Hamza-King/facebook.com.