dusk drowns me in
a sinkhole of lamentations.
although, the earth fountains,
it thirsts for soluble bodies.
in Benue, psychos make love,
unconsented, on farmlands—
fingerjob triggers till
villages squirt requiems.
may the blasted head
composting the soil in
my nightmare last night
not be my beloved’s but
of my allegiance to this land
—dust bowl of broken bones.
nights of which transition
from breathing skies to
a rush of stars
choked coffins.
Katsina jagged ghosts
bleed still. wonder why
the sea tastes saline?
when grief slays the earth
sores turn dust
ashes urn
salt waters.
Oluwatobi Poroye
Oluwatobi Poroye is a Nigerian poet and educator. He writes about loss, silence, grief and migration. His works have been published in Perhappened Mag, LibrettoNg, Burning House Press, Jalada Africa and elsewhere. He is a Best of the Net nominee. He writes from Ogun, Nigeria. Say hi @yungprinzet on Twitter.
Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash