Catharsis | Eniolá Abdulroqeeb Arówólò

i do not intend suffering upon this body;

yet, on some occasions, i set the butterflies

 

on fire like one who has developed a propensity

for darkness. almost all things occupied

 

with breath repulse me—my art, too, is losing

its spark lately, a bonfire night plundered

 

by a rainstorm. so much occurs in silence—

little of joy, more of sorrow. like Dazai, life

 

wanders on the brink of collapse.

or tell me, what is there not to mull over?

 

the radio spells out pain, groans out of

abyss & delicate misfortunes of the universe.

 

regardless, i want to spare the bread for the

pigeons. absurd things still keep me alive—mango

trees. Spring. delightful hymns of nightingales.

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Eniolá Abdulroqeeb Arówólò

is a writer from Nigeria and a member of the Frontiers Collective. A Pushcart and BoTN nominee, his works have appeared—or are forthcoming—in 4faced Liar, ANMLY, Consequence Forum, Fullhouse Lit, 20:35 Africa, RatWorld Magazine, Fourth River Review, Rulerless, Perhappened, Lumiere Review, Temz Review, Ake Review, Sunlight Press, Kissing Dynamite, Brittle Paper, Tint Journal, Rough Cut Press, Lammergeier, and elsewhere. He was shortlisted for Chukwuemeka Akachi Prize, and currently serves as a Poetry Contributing Editor for Barren Magazine.