WE III by Olajide Vincent Ajise
The contours on our faces
are not dimples associated with smiles,
neither are they tribal-marks of yore.
They are autographs of woes etched by sufferance.
The tattoos on our consciences
are not emblems of remembrance,
neither are they boulevards that beautify our esteems.
They are scars inflicted on us by fate.
The blisters on our aspirations
are neither lumps of buoyancy
nor bulges of boons.
They are concocted clots of propagandas.
We’ve tilled the earth,
rummaged around heaven’s vault,
seeking the primordial of our glories.
Lo! All have been in vain.
Despite the travails,
we are optimistic of survival,
for soon, we will hear tunes of blessings
blaring forth from the larynx of our grace.
it will pass.
Ajise Vincent, a prolific poet, has been published on several platforms, including the London grip magazine, Kalahari Review, Sakonfa literary magazine, African Writer, Indian periodical, I Am Not A Silent Poet, Afrikana ng, Poetry Pacific, Commonline Journal, Novel Afrique, Black Boy Review, Tuck Magazine and various anthologies. His poem, “Song of a Progeny”, was shortlisted at the Korea-Nigeria Poetry feast, 2015. He won the 4th edition of Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize with his poem ‘We III’. Ajise is currently finishing up a major in Economics at the University.
A very nice poem from Vincent. I was thirsty of this kind of poem, now I have had a good sip of it. Thumbs up, bro.