In Shaa Allah

(after DANUSHA LAMÈRIS)

We were from childhood taught a
word to earth our faith, our fears &
our wants. In Shaa Allah; meaning if
God wants. Hope is another parasitic
demon that feeds on its host.
In Shaa Allah, the war will be over and
husbands would be returned to their wives.

A mother awaits his matyred son on the
same ground at which fate parted them.
In Shaa Allah, someday, she would
see her son & again, kiss his forehead.

On this arid land, peace would come to stay &
In Shaa Allah, nothing would e’er exist to
chase it out. The thunderstorm, too, would
stop & we all shall live to tell its tales.

In Shaa Allah, birds would, again, dance
joyfully above our roofs. May the sounds of
flutes and drums that tell about emergence
of joy be revived, again.
We’ll lift the lamp of solace & may it flutter
through the four edges of our world.

Teacher, a poetry coach and a literary critic, Fadairo Tesleem is a final year student of “Kamal school of Arabic & Islamic studies” Ilorin, Kwara state. He is a member of Hill-top creative art foundation, Kwara state branch, also a member of “Association Of Nigerian Authors” ANA, Osun state branch. His poems are published or forthcoming in Fiery Scribe Review, Pangolin Review, Queer Toronto Literary Magazine, Arts Lounge, Best of Africa, Blue Minaret, Down in the Dirt, Ninshãr arts, Blue Pepper, Upwrite Magazine, Inverse Journal, Eremite Poetry, Second Chance Lit. Mag, Tilted House, Mixed Mag, & a host of other publications.