Little Bird

Little bird, back when I was much older

I delighted in your green square wings

Fastened to the sides of your white trunk

Avians envied your peace and abundance.

Little bird, again I beheld your reflection

Scrambling for food amidst the dirt

An eagle strutting amidst the cocks

Seeking relevance you learned to crow.

Little bird, shake off the rain-drench

Listen to the sound of the beagle

Cast a shadow on the face of the earth

If you keep hiding, no one will seek.

Little bird, I'm much younger now 

Towards the sky I fix my gaze 

Making the clarion call to everyone

All at attention but you at ease.

Oh Nigerian flag! listen to the wind

Spread your wings and soar so high

Surpass the zenith of past glory

Beyond the heights of the African dream.

THE ESSENCE

Seeing You – Like the spring of April, my heart throb blossoms

Touching You – Like strumming an acoustic guitar, unfading melody

Smelling You – Like a freshly cut rose, simply sensational

Hearing You – Like sweet symphony, when you call my name

Tasting You – Like nectarine, when I kiss your tender lips

You are the essence and epitome of my senses - my wife, my life.

...feelings for you...

Hark! The one thing I can’t seem to contain is you

I feel so excited and elated about you

My world stands still for you

Nothing here on earth is as important as you

My most treasured gift is you

If I live for a thousand years I want to spend it with you

My world is so beautiful because of you

Spark! I feel like standing and dancing for you

Any chance to tell anyone about you

Love has never been as sweet without you

Defining love in life, I’ll simply say you

I can't contain the joy I feel for you

The day of your birth; God smiled on you

Sonorous melody of my love, thanks to you

Ethereal! Nothing illustrates love better than you

I thought ice-cream was sweet until I met you

Plantain or sugar-cane is no match beside you

It’s the taste of nectar when I kiss you

My indulgence is what I’ll call you

How can I even be myself without you?

Oh my darling wife, It is you or you or you.

RED: TALE OF THE TEMPTRESS

Knock Knock! Knock Knock! I knew who it was but I paid no attention to it.
It took a snap-slap to knock me off my transfixed stare into the abyss.
"Oh it was nothing serious I told my buddie" when he asked where I was.
Lost in lust, my mind held no restraint to its sail - having a piece of her that was left.

Daddy Daddy! Daddy Daddy! Their voices echoed one after the other with drowning excitement.
Sooner their voices reverberated in silence, overshadowed by tiny snores.
My cute princesses - they wanted to have their night-dance routine but got ignored again - 1 week.
The grotesque on my wife's face was as a puzzled Pandora box.

Thump Thump! Thump Thump! My heart raced when she walked into my office at closing hours.
Startled, I watched her motion towards me with fixed gaze just like I imagined.
Unbuckled! The first, then second and the third button... Day 1, Day 2, Day 3...
My wife found out but spoke tear streaked silence... Night after night; sniffs and sobs my lullaby.

Day 365, Day 366... Alone in my grave emptiness - wife, triplets even temptress, all at bay!

BLUE - TALE FROM YESTERDAY

Are you out of your mind? Leaving??? I yelled hoping he never did... 

Today I replay that moment every night for the past 6 months

I feel like strangling her every time I see her: forgiveness a distant mile away
I dine in my sobs and eat gravel-bread of bitterness - I pray for grace to let go
The “over” word still hurts knowing he later got married to my best friend.

Taking a bow...

Mild, yet a wild beast I dread; devouring its prey without even a growl
Tempted to choose hell as against battling the attempt to make my life a living hell
Of what essence or what gain if I'm to die while trying to make a living
Bills to pay boss to face, striving hard yet, a victim of being singled out
How much is the cost of my joy or what can I exchange for acceptance?

Wishing there was a miracle...

It wasn't her birthday yet she was trending on my BBM contacts
Every single update I saw triggered an outburst of rage and tears
Show yourself you coward, I dare you to come as a man - fist for fist
You showed no known signs during our courtship, nor honeymoon
Now the snitch that you are, you came for my wife and unborn child - Cancer.

YELLOW: TALE OF THE TIDES

That fateful night when life's eyes shed two streams of separate tears.
The beauty of one was bringing you to life and anguish of the other which was taking hers
Streaks of salty fluid made its path on you; partially washing her blood stains off you
Your shrill subdued her quiet sobs as she made her way to where you came from.

Caressed by the pangs of excruciating pain and her fleeting breath
Echo of her joy was reverberated while holding closely to her bundle of joy
Genetics successfully passed her charming dimple-traits from her cheeks to yours
Such beauty to reproduce oneself on exit only to suffer the gift of a day's sight.

Rays from the sun hit my pupils, accompanied by warm tears to cool my hurting eyes.
Separated by 6ft between two worlds where she lay I recount the story of her.
On this side dear one, today can be life, wealth, joy but tomorrow; no guarantee - nothing.
Like the rise and fall of the tides, life can't be too fair or cruel is just what it is.

BROWN – TALE OF TWO RIGHTS

Walking into their house, I got welcomed not even by a short-changed pleasantry… At first I thought it was a video shoot but I saw no cameras on set. I asked for an explanation.

Femi: She pays attention to everyone and everything but me and still has the guts to say she can’t share me anymore… Madness!!!

Tega: All I've ever done is to encourage him to be better'. If that’s a crime, is better I take my leave (in tear-patched voice).

Femi: She always makes me feel inadequate. Do more, you can be better... I think of that and drive myself even harder but she doesn't seem to appreciate my efforts. I'm sure she has always wanted someone better.

Tega: I boast and brag about him in the face of my family and friends out there. Getting home I try to encourage him to be better but what do I get? He shuts me out. I can't be second to anything or anyone.

I took their hands, pulling them together. I said our greatest fears often times tend to drive our greatest desires or pursuits. Most men are at their lowest when they sense the vibe of inadequacy. Most Women on the other hand is likely to push the distress button at the scent of threatening insecurity.

Tega don't make him feel inadequate and Femi, don't make her feel insecure.

A crystal clear communication is what you should work on as you never get so much out of accusations. 

Just like two wrongs; two rights don’t always make a right.