I yearn — Armaya’u Umar Baba

The archive I yearn Poem by Armaya’u Umar Baba · 1993 I yearn I hold you and touch you I yearn For our hearts to beat as one I yearn To feel your breath and warmth against mine I yearn. But Lo! There are barriers Laws we both respect Patient we have to be Until […]

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My petite — Abba T.A. Sheriff

The archive My petite Poem by Abba T.A. Sheriff · 1993 Oh ye my petite Your golden brown shirleyless face Magnetise I to you Your milk-white eyes brighten my heart Your fairy voice my best melody Your velvet lips need no stick Your thirty-two brighter than diamond Arabian damsels envy your hair Oh ye my […]

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I saw him — Abba T.A. Sheriff

The archive I saw him Poem by Abba T.A. Sheriff · 1993 He said, It’s unhygenic To share spoon It’s unhygenic To share cup It’s unhygenic To share towel Not even with my wife But I saw him Yes I saw him Mouth in mouth Like a pigeon feeding a young one Kissing a lady […]

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The last lap — Dansadau Musa Jibril

The archive The last lap Poem by Dansadau Musa Jibril · 1992 When wuru-wuru wolves were walking about Generations unborn in advance come to doubt If mother earth will again sprout If northern winds will again go to south The dead will return to recoil the rout And that’s why the living have to shout […]

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The rabble — Dansadau Musa Jibril

The archive The rabble Poem by Dansadau Musa Jibril · 1992 Clang!, the doors of power banging New henchmen busy re-arranging For the next brigandage ganging: The endless power exchanging Now see them randy and dancing Belching from the filth of tanking Moguls spend the whole day banking And then comes the missile landing! With […]

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Septicemia — Maikudi Z.S.Z Sambo

The archive Septicemia Poem by Maikudi Z.S.Z Sambo · 1992 If we are not allowed here to ask From where we come here what we do To where we go here from Sacrifice the future for the present bluest tragedy Retrace the path and the steps go back to roots Not of geopolitics Not of […]

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Reverie — Maikudi Z.S.Z Sambo

The archive Reverie Poem by Maikudi Z.S.Z Sambo · 1992 Sits invisible on its prie-dieu on the confluence of the Niger the Diadem that made the nation in their mind ease for the waste Teaches the separation body from soul as politico-economics from religion The pupils Figures bleated by fish dishes palm-oil redened eyes have […]

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My daughter — Uncredited (Citizen)

Read “My daughter”, an uncredited poem published in Citizen on 07 Dec 1992, on gender roles, family and aspiration.

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Love’s promise — Isah Saleh Ajingi

The archive Love’s promise Poem by Isah Saleh Ajingi · 1992 Aisha, my Aisha, What a beautiful name. Aisha, promise me, That no one but me alone. Aisha, if you mean it, I will remain happy in life. Aisha, please keep your words,. So as to shy the onlookers’ imagination, Aisha, your smile of favour, […]

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Beauty — Muhammad Kamil

The archive Beauty Poem by Muhammad Kamil · 1991 The tapestry of nature, In its vibrant splendour, Those fragrance and blends, Such delight do they engender… A wife’s face, With gentle smile, Her loving voice, Her caring eyes that sparkle moist, To watch her pass with simple grace, Coming home to her warm embrace… The […]

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