Elegy I

for ma.

after Aracelis Girmay.           

You, resident of heaven watching over me,

               you are who I love. Lost tenant of the world,

crossing the sirāt & trying to cross the sirāt,

               It is you I love. Oasis at my burnt parchings

slaking my thirst, flooding my breasts.

                Defendant at the doorstep of my sins, bear-

ing the whips, that I do not tear.

               Making to sleep even as the sick toured the 

sahel of your body. Nurse; Maid. Chef; 

            Support. Rescue; Date. Sunshine; rain. Teach-

er of long histories and recipes. Queens 

                   Premier mum. I have sat at my own nails,

 rufous red flowing, gushing. Nicking

                  me not in hand or foot, you are who I love. 

I have cast my lines at the edge of a lake,

            for whose sake does the whale take my bait?

Who will talk to God on my behalf? 

                     The world has gone on as it always will:

The rivers and streams noting the goings

                  and comings of migratory animals. Wilde-

beests and Caribous. The skies awaiting

               the return of Swifts and frigates each cycle.

You mother, have traveled and will not

                     return. The naive man prays for eternity. 

In the beginning something was promised.

                Throughout life we seek it. In the end, only

it was certain.

Bio: Dolapo Tajudeen SWAN VI, is a Nigerian poet and student of Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Ilorin. He’s a ’24 Spring fellow, the 2nd runner-up for the Agidigbo prize for poetry ’24. He was longlisted for the Bash Amueni prize for performance poetry. His poem have appeared or are forthcoming in Muse UNN Journal, Frontier Poetry, A long House, Akéwí Magazine, Inkspired NG, Libretto Magazine and elsewhere. Connect with him on X @dolapotajudeen3, on IG @dolapopoetry