At the break of our dying days
Our mouths brimmed
With flowing milk
From the succulent spring – our mothers’ breasts
Our manured hearts
Knew no groan to grasp
The marbles of our fathers
From the secrecy of the gods
We decoded the mystery in mars,
We fathomed the gossips of the birds
The mourning clothes of night
And the snoring of the wind
Under the tent of our stretchy sky.
Alas! Our siblings kissed the strangers
And they eat no more
The kolanut of our love
The smoked yam and oil
We ate together on the farm
By the bank of Arinkinkin River
Under the armpit of feathered trees
Times ahead of strife
Of chickens and ducks.
Today,
We hearken no more
To the lore of our fathers
Yet, in a muddle we dwell
Of the strangers craft
We are the wanderers
Amidst two flowing streams
We dance no more
The rhythm learnt at dawn
And eternity of time past
The gloaming glares at us
We still grapple in bewilderment
Mimicking a myriad of dance steps
The symphony of orchestra of the passers-by
Chaotic crumbs of cultures
Memento of our wanderings amidst two flowing streams.
We are the children
Reeling in maze
We are the dwellers
Of a muddled world.
About the Poet
Gideon Olufemi Ogunniran, popularly called Ogidiolu Afrocentric in arts circles, hails from Agurodo, Osun State. He is a Philosophy graduate from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Apart from being a poet who writes proficiently in English and Yoruba Language, he is also a prolific songwriter, compere, comedian, and radio host. He has to his credits two recorded love songs titled, ADEBOLA, and FOLAKEMI. He has performed these songs at several musical and poetry fora such as EniObanke Music Festival (Emufest) Ibadan and Lagos, and IFE Poetry Festival, Ile-Ife. He’s currently a news analyst at Jamz FM, a topnotch radio station in Ibadan, and the maker of an online skits series titled OGIDIOLU ONILETA. He can be reached via his email: femiogunniran22@gmail
