Sisi and Bobo- Part 1

Sisi in red framed glasses and tall thin bobo are sitting beside each other in a danfo descending Eko bridge into Marina, Sisi and Bobo have boarded the same danfo several times and Bobo always gives someone else his change, just before she asks. She is tired of his apologetic smiles so she makes faces at him when she sees him. This is the first time they’re sitting beside each other.

Dancing with the Sun

Hi guys,

I’m trying to get slightly more serious with poetry, so I’m having a week long challenge on instagram and here too! where I put up a freshly minted poem each day.
Enjoy today’s entry which was prompted by the return of the sun after seven days of rain in Lagos.

The Voices…

You left home at 6:49 in a rush because you were nineteen minutes late, but not before applying an extra coat of the indigo lipstick that makes little children wail when you smile at them. You tried to stop a bike but he looked at your lips and shook his head, his action made you grimace and decide to head to Kilo instead of the Lawanson you’d been aiming for. Finding your way to Kilo would involve two different keke rides or one keke and one okada, you chose the latter option even before you began.

Fine gal for sale.

Somebody was supposed to attend her friend’s birthday party, somebody wore a dress and even- wonder of wonders!- slapped makeup on her face before taking a thousand selfies.

Ten Years Don Waka

I was working hard at being me- unruffled in any storm of things that do not concern me, when Marian called my name.
“Adaeze!” She floated into the scattered room that had me in the middle of it.
“Ada is there anything I can help you with? The truck is almost ready to move and you haven’t packed anything.”
“I’m good” I tell her, a smile dancing at the corners of my eyes at the concern in her voice
“I don’t want them to say you’re the one who’s delaying the movement, you’re my friend and I don’t want them saying things about you.”

Artful Dodger.

Feeding the three picky eaters she had given birth to, always required plenty thought, trickery and cunning and if all failed, her weapon of last resort- fried plantains and scrambled eggs would get them to finish the food, leave two or three slices on the plate, or eat the fried eggs and four slices of plantain respectively in order of their births.

The Young and the Innocent

Nuttin No Go So was my favourite song when I was 15, I would listen to it several times daily on my brother’s discman. It held me through the twists and turns of teenage angst and uncertainty about impending adulthood and choices.

Then I forgot about it.