OneMotolani

My father tells me  As often as he can "Know God" "Seek him, you'd find him" And every passing day,  I realise why; You're his first  Even before you're yours Motolani 

The Ransom for life is not an arm  The sweetest oils won't avert  Our forever will not change  Nameless they are  Lands called the Grave  Motólání

See, it was not so hard to fancy Ajeps. His entire being oozes of a kind of Swagga not common in other agberos. For one, he was always neat and well kept. And his steps had a definitive bounce to them. If tables turned, that man would have been a man of poise. I think my endearment towards him began when he first attempted to speak English to me. I was more intrigued than amused, and well, I did not laugh at him.  Halo Boys, I ear that pe, you use to go, class,” shey, you wee teaching me one or tow? You should have seen the stern look on his face. Something passed there for just a second.   ******* Padi e, go buy me garri and pure water; mortuary standard, epa- everything sha, you don get? .  And I will shake my head, or answer “  I get”  running as fast as my young legs could carry me. Ajeps always had change;  beta life  was forever first on top of the wads of cash that seem to struggle to fit into his pockets. And I w...

My afternoons –evenings were the most exciting parts of my day. After school every day, I will return to the hustle and bustle of the garage life just beside my Mother’s stall. Noise naturally became a rhythm I could never separate from my life. My Mother, the primary and most fundamental source of noises my life. Her natural pitch is on the highest tune, you would think like an interpreter she was trying to catch up with a preacher’s sermon. I know better to either complain or correct. The first day I said Maa mi, lower your voice. The veins on your neck are throttling like snakes trying to escape a fire hole. She looked at me for about a minute and landed me the most resounding slap I have ever received to date. My ears lost their function for over five minutes because I couldn’t make out what she said before; Na your papa, you dey follow talk that one. Stupid Pikin It was at that point that I burst into tears, I cried for hours, and it only irritated h...

Egbon Ajepeaye was no do-gooder. Bus Conductors on the streets of Lagos are rarely any good- that was the impression my Mother instilled in my young mind. “ My pikin, agbero, no be your portion. You go speak better English,…”  and on and on she will continue. Some of them have an aspiration too, you know, maybe some even dared to see their future beyond the agbero zone.    But somehow, we all grew into the street consciousness of any proper Lagos kid – the street OT of a Lagosian never levels down. Don’t ask me what an OT is, ask the streets of Lagos.

Some days I dream Dreams -Of me speaking in unknown tongues Seeking connection to a power beyond my tiny brain.   The words from my tongue: ever so fervent. My own consciousness acknowledges the absence of any effort on my weakened vessel. And I wake up filled with satisfaction. Something I do not deserve. Some days, I'm in and out of sleep. Whispering silent prayers, forming no actual words. Midway, I tell myself to speak up. For a silent lip is a busy heart.   Sometimes I do, sometimes I get lost in the wanderings of my own heart.   I’ m only human I conclude and one who has never failed to see the light of this World. Not at my lowest when my living had less value than filthy rags.   On better days, I'm on my knees; openly loving you and feeling the warmth. Wetting your extended hands with my tears because there's no one I'd rather share them with. Asking questions I'm not ready to have answered.   And you tell me; that H...

No two dreams are ever equal So count it all foolishness When you seek only to compare Your pot bellied friend Whose riches you envy Seeks the simple life you live He wishes his stomach were trim and slim Like yours You, an hustler Wants your assurance of the next meal Extra naira bills for flenjo Two bottles of Chilled star legend A warm bosom for the cold  All that seems to be that big guy's fancy Two souls entwined in each other's world That's what you both are Two dreams that will never really sync