Warrior

By JL Maikaho

I hear your heart the echo
of
doors shutting out your armour every
tear a salt lake stuck in the city that says
be strong then gives you a red card for breaking
walls listen I too have wailed
abyss they
take until you can’t give anymore
if songs could break walls I’d tell you to sing
but it took more than a choir to bring down
Jericho girl I once told you no shame
in weakness I’m sorry I thought
the poetry could save me us
something must die to let another live
desire the life breathing
within your waiting armour go
blood for blood ruthless desire
clasp your fingers around the
throat of the door gaze into his soul
and take what is yours
lifeblood warrior woman
walls falling at your feet cadavers
they built war around you expecting music
you are the unsheathed sword
glistening with bloody victory
take the city the fallen the song
I hear your heart echo
of beheaded doors sacked cities
we are scarred girls insisting on beauty
womanhood
we own the cities the songs
fuck the protests
they didn’t save us they have no right
to tell us how to save ourselves

BIO:
JL Maikaho lives in Gombe, Katsina and Abuja. She tweets @JLMaikaho and IGs @jl.maikaho.