The Black Napkin Volume 1 Issue 6 | Page 23

Two poems by ojo taiye

Prayer

at the skin of midnight

a tooth like the face of mother

chew sorrow

like tongues woken from their catacombs

on a window sill

salty puddles:

languages of blind stew

to where stars lean on

she spread her hands

nailed into the air

for rain

to kiss the fire in her lips

to flower her hope

to repaint her flags

and if possible

replace the spoon,

father left in her mouth

SEASHELLS

behind the diary of a carnage

scene

of a lad is a song running

to the moon for

redemption

wrapped alongside

a cocoon

dirges litter

the back part of a place

hidden between the thighs

of a maiden

searching for home

in burnt conch

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