REFLECTIVE: "THE LASTING DREAM" BY SUMAILA UMAISHA

Someday we shall lie 

locked in a lasting dream, 

no body to return to,

freed thoughts tuned 

to truths rejected.

Words, once beloved, 

lie still, lowered flags

and ashes cutting costs 

already counted.

Each will turn away,

nothing but reflections 

lost to termites.

Here, the first time 

since the last, we live 

space-wide, to hide. 

(c) Sumaila Umaisha

- Nigeria.

The poem "The Lasting Dream" by Sumaila Umaisa reflects on the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of human existence. It presents death as an eternal sleep from which there is no return, where worldly concerns, cherished words, and personal achievements lose their significance. The poet suggests that after death, people are eventually forgotten, just as memories fade and are consumed by time. Through its contemplative tone, the poem encourages readers to reflect on the temporary nature of life and the importance of seeking deeper truths while they are still alive.