HOPE: A LIFE INSURANCE
by Najeeb Yusuf Ubandiya
Niger, Nigeria
She wears a beaming yellow robe. Hope,
She walks past a few trees of silver leaves
The morn is here, just rose from death—
Again—like the oleander. & she holds
A bouquet of brilliant flowers. Again, walks
Past the old men in black jeans and boots.
‘T is me, to whom she heads to, again,
Walks into the meadow and now to me
Hands me over the bouquet & starts to say
Words, but the meadow ate the first ones.
The bouquet, which by hands I squeeze
Drops petals of lovely red roses—& thorns,
as well—to the ground. I could feel the
Autumn in my hands, I could feel the
End of summer— Agitated air protesting
Against my skin, & she says, again, “I am your
Life insurance.” Tells me to not bury myself again
Under the carpet of leaves. Tells me
To pick my battles wisely. Her words feel like
A rescue.
AN ANTIDOTE TO DESPAIR
by Najeeb Yusuf Ubandiya
Niger, Nigeria
Relationship with yourself is so demanding
& complex;
How much of unique despair and pain do you
Conceal/carry & still make moves
Around the house
Looking forward today, towards adorning
The books
& unfinished manuscripts with true
Illumination— but your heart
So withered
Like a leafless maple tree.
Every night, you host a party for despair
He dances
Around & sings out your other names: “Numb”
“Scared,” “Angry," “Helpless,”
“Overwhelmed,” “Paranoid”
But tonight you decide not
To show up in the backyard— rather retire
To your solitude,
Build boundaries & send the elderly thoughts
In your mind to a nursing home,
Be an unloving child to them
Leave them abandoned.
& When they die; border their graves
With a garden of plastic flowers & have
The Angels water them.
Najeeb Yusuf Ubandiya
Najeeb Yusuf Ubandiya is a young poet from Nigeria. He is a loner who writes to find out what he thinks and feels—about himself and the world around him—and to keep his purpose awake and breathing. His works have appeared in Afro Literary Magazine, Blue Marble Review and Ngiga Review. You can find him on twitter @najeeb___X