“Can we not look in the eyes of the other and speak the truth, as done in the days of yore?”

Can you hear me scream?
I guess you do not
With all the rubies mortals gifted to you
You are confused, what do you seek?

Can you not hear me speak?
Listen, let us lay silent just for a while
Let us immerse ourselves in the moment
This day, this minute, here and now.

Listen, absorb, let our souls merge
I am trying to reach you, one foot off the ledge
Do you not comprehend the language my heart speaks
Should I rip it out, a gift to you placed on sticks?

They say two hearts connect but once in a life time
Did we not connect? Why are we lost?

I have learnt many lessons in life, but you are not one
With this bleeding heart, still I believe you are the one
Who am I to chose reality over a dream
Or common sense over we both being a team

Can you see me weep?
My heart bleeds from these eyes
Broken windows to the very core where my being lies
A mockery to the self “it won’t bother me”, what lies, a sham!!

Your promises burn into the Sun at dawn
Your love reclines to the seas edge at dusk
I can feel this bile flowing right in my veins
A reminder to the hate and pains Oh death where doth thou lay?
Let me go in silence, oh! what shame!
Cupid, you should be killed for your aim
But then I can not die before my time
And my time is not earlier than nine(ty)

Can you see the anger in my eyes?
Or feel this heart turn to ice?
a rejuvenation from thy lips it needs
The slightest feel from the warmth of your touch it seeks

But alas! I’m merely an old soul in a new world
This decadence and madness
This incandescent quest for copulation and myopic clamour for the material I cannot comprehend
The belief in nature’s purity I depend

Can we not be pure?
Can we not look in the eyes of the other and speak the truth, as done in the days of yore?
Lies ripped out of our guts before they are told, as we are told in Lore

This god is fatigued by the worlds devices
You fail to hear my heart speak
You fail to feel my eyes shriek
And I become naught but ice
As this heart becomes frozen in time and place
A monument to dying hope
A grave to a decomposing dream
Chris Acland do lend me your rope

I’d watch you glide away…
I’m naught but a coward..
I am content watching from the shadows
My moon.. my star.. My Galaxy.. My life…
I’d watch you leave As this heart…. Turns to ice….
And I will thus fade……
Fade right into the deep…..

————————-

Afolabi Olaniyi is a graduate of the department of Philosophy, Obafemi Awolowo University. A man of many talents, Lover of words, writer, Accountant, Karateka. A walking heap of contradiction.

30 Days 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija