JEREMIAD: "WAILING WINDS" BY ABDULMALIK YAHYA

When will we

Wean against the wind,

Wailing to wear out

Our youths?

How did I cage myself,

Carrying a torch

That brightly darkens the glow of my skin,

Toning me to a slave, cheerfully engraved?

Why did I choose to entrap my chap,

To drown in illusions,

Chasing hollow clouds

That dimmed the glow

Of my family’s pride,

Ignorantly slapping their image

Cheek to cheek?

I was a victim enslaved

In its cavernous cave—

Masquerades that knave even

The bravest to waive—a crave

That left me wailing,

Worn out,

Against the wind.

Now look at me—

I’m all but lost hope,

Knowing nowhere else to turn.

The deep blue sea has become

My kin.

Bottle upon bottle,

I choose to reach its depth—

To what end?

I must quiet the storm,

The one clouding my inner mirror.

Step by step,

I will erase yesterday’s error,

And crown tomorrow

With today’s waged sage.

“No to drugs”—

My newfound chorus.

When will we

Wean against the wind?

© ABDULMALIK YAHYA

(The Punsmith)

Nigeria

20-01-2025

The poet persona wonders how pain and challenges have caught him this hardly. The voice drinks on and on in other to avoid overthinking. The bard says taking of hard drugs is extremely negative to overcome the challenges of life.