We’d wait for the evening to come. Maroon eyelids, the sky clips with Clouds burning wildfire on Yelu’s head. As people of this town return From sorghum fields, we’d wait for the wind To begin to murmur and descend down Before we knit our limbs, Soften them up for the rocks.
Every child of this neighborhood Knows our ghost stories begin At the loins of this mountain Where we all gather our mouths And blaspheme against all adversaries Of this deadbeat country. Every daughter of this village, Carries a spear in their heart.
The evening comes in search of joy, With lungs filled with heavy vowels. We dig the foothill of this town Again, for what we have planted as secrets; Souls of dead birds return filled with delight. I do not regret gifting My mouth to the light of the moon here. Eat me whole, celestial body, eat me.
Olajide Salawu is a Nigerian writer and the author of Preface for Leaving Homeland published under African Poetry Book Fund.