A portrait of me bereft of grief

PoemProse
Written By Abdulkareem Abdulkareem

Laugh now, cry later — Drake


Today / I hold a Belladonna tulip to my nostrils / sniffing its fragrance to plunge the moon / into my heart's depth / I walk into an opera / help my bum to a pew / & I begin to bend my voice into bass / to orchestrate songs with no breakage in my mouth / So today / grief won’t hold my hand into its home / walled with faces / your face / my face / & their faces / I pitch a tent in laughter’s home / & my innards begins to brim of its liveliness / when it is night / a bottle of Vodka would not help in lulling me to sleep / & while I walk into sleep / wearing the moon as a mask on my face / I would eclipse this sun of grief / with my laughter / Maybe tomorrow / my grief can grow taller like the Eiffel tower / & we would dance hand in hand / like two ballerina while it drizzles my body / but today / I would laugh now, cry later /


cover image: Bernadetta Talanca

Abdulkareem Abdulkareem

Abdulkareem Abdulkareem (he/his/him) is a Nigerian writer, linguist, who wants his voice to go beyond the thatched roof of his mother’s house. He studies Linguistics at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Besides writing poetry, he cherishes the historical fiction and crime fiction genres. His friends calls him Pānini. He writes from the ancient city of Ilorin. When he isn’t writing, he’s either listening to JuiceWRLD/Drake. His works have appeared/forthcoming on ARTmosterrific, The Kalahari Review, The Shallow Tales Review, Nnoko stories, Nanty greens, Arts Lounge, Rigorous, Ice Floe Press, Second Chance lit & elsewhere. He tweets @panini500bc Instagram panini_500bc

https://linktr.ee/Panini500bc
Previous

It’s August Again And I Think I Might Disappear
Next

Lemons