A frown, a little smile
Then the rupture of laughter
The argghs, the hmmms and the mtchew
Just sounds escaping through the silence of the mind
No stressed syllables just expressions
Baked in the oven of emotions.
Stand, sit, up and down again
A swing to the right a bit to the left;
A walking pendullum dangling confusedly
Abrupt, resolute, lost and back to life again.
Then another dry laughter made wet
By the streaming tears descending the hole in the mountain.
A nod of the head, a gesture
Finger pointed at the air
Waving here and there
In rhythm with the head.
A glance at the wall
And there on a frame boldly written
Learn to be back on your feet when you fall.
So provoking to see plaques become plague
And meadows a greenery of thorns
How many ever learnt to stand again?
How many even learnt to crawl again-
After a fatal blow while ascending lofty heights?
Just silence
Wails of silence
Behold the eyes in pretence
For words, words may bring down this wall
I mean this wall of silence
That has become a fortress to this agony.
Just a journey into the silence of the mind
A long walk in the shadows of grief
Hope and hopelessness.
A journey of life’s trepidation
Behind the veil of imperfection.
(C) Ayinla Muyideen Adeleke
