Segun Ozique

 It’s only natural that we all want to say something that represents all “incredibly emotional,” and special kind words about the dead as we all reflect on the death of an Aunty called Paulina. The children would hear blended calls and texts about the role of her motherhood, ‘caretakerhood,’ unbridled friendliness, and many other wonderful things about our dear aunt, including the bond shared among family members- a bond unlike no other, eulogized. Please, remember that CANDOUR was her GOSPEL, etched in her DNA and passed on to her children who by the way, as we all mourn, still have the responsibility of taking care of their ailing father. So, for all those extremely emotional, limit your tears to your quiet places, and display the anguish, grief, regret, sorrow, wails, woes, or “negative energy,” in private. Spare to share them with the children. They need truth, sincerity, no bulls, devoutness, faithfulness, guilelessness, and honest-to-God supportive “positive energy.” Do

 Dear Aunty, I write to inquire about your abode in heaven Here we still are in mourn of your sudden departure Also in discussions of your life a living testimony and Of your words apt, golden, sweet as songs in a musical   The space you left is not empty because of your funds of love Chest of investment assuring not to stare at empty slate Wisdom, you taught helping to navigate life and to live by Now we turn new pages to live our lives without you   Your smile as opposed to your frown remains as magical Your light stays on as the belief you taught stays strong Your life, still a living love of compassion spread and shared Do please let God know we await you as our chosen angel   In life, as witnessed, you were a bridge backbone of peace Bluffs aside your heart was pure, tender as your soul true You enriched a multitude in divine direction to do His will Therefore, I join us to pray that He Grants you eternal peace   Adieu, dearest Aunty.

  She was A sweetheart; a leading light with a gospel of candour A giant; depiction of homeliness, yet a frank fountain; With a presence like diamond, even at a casual contact She was, Wife, mother; sprinkler feeder to all famished souls Sunlight to shades like gentle cooling rain to heat Seed Sower soul of humanity, and adorably unique She left A woman, who remains, we pray, by His grace; a bridge A woman virtuous, righteous in immeasurably measures A woman who through, to gain benediction of His grace.

 My roving thoughts as I sit at my computer blank-page Are of three unmistakable FSAS musketeers: First up, Kunle Oriyomi I saw as spotty spatsera youth Typical Lagos happy-go-lucky expansive cracker Who now in maturity is spinning logic-rigged audacity Genuinely generous to a tee, though not whimsical And the cherry on the cake; the old spin has not stopped Then, there is Kenny Bakare the Corinthian, an amicable one Still the steering personality; a spinning events wheeler His place, old mates find conducive to feast and play And Dapo Olowu, the enchanter; amiable as portable Now turned a robed, wigged, and jurist packing a punch Who despite the height of the ladder climbed, stays humble I find the little many things they are gifted, endearing Like morning dews that gather water in drops They all have turned natural down to earth brilliant minds Forthright, as to call a spade as it is rightly named, yet kind Helpful in deeds as delightfully empathic i

  Happy I am you no longer would be hungry Happy your sacks today are laden with gifts Happy the road to home no longer is weary Happy all that has come to you pleasantly a lift Happy is, of the time spent in outpouring prayers Happy you no longer are weighed down or bent Happy times you dutifully waited and today the pay Happy is your head now of glorious crown, no not lent Happy that in so doing, He did openly to all eyes to see Extent people of good will cling to you, a woman blessed That happy you asked, He said He would, and did as He said And, now your footsteps’ no longer Snowflakes tan: Blessed

  The morning today, I started in shock From being a witness to a darkened Dreaded and barren dream To refraction of my darkened cloud So, I have stayed smiling and joyous To have escaped the grave in my trail I’m cheerful, not out of content But that I berth at gladness bay That my heart is in the rapture is What unconditional love does In angel Gabriel, my brother God’s grace has healed my pang

  Some grow to believe family are of friendship and blood bond Believe that when one is sad, saddled with bad breaks to deal Or when one basks in sunshine and laughter, in the rain of fortune To the family that combines the rainbow of love, care, and support, we turn   For we see family as a cherished tree and all contribute to tender A tree planted with love, with memories and dreams of treasure Cultivated and rooted to care for the leaves, fruits and branches This is the wish; a comforting family of our goals to trust and depend   As you can have friends who have hearts filled with rage, hate and hurts So family carries baggage of bile of bitterness, though roots remain as one And as one needs to keep close, and integrate into one’s schedule, faithful friends So too is, to stay sane, nourish, and nurture one’s well-being, do the same to family   True, family as a building block of society is a most fulfilling and dependable fallback. However, it is not

  A girl. Beautiful alluring yoke Comely and desirous to the eyes Like a luscious petal, looks fragile .

  Smiling without cause is memories like dreams When many a mile I have seen me transported Seeing me amongst the dotting sky stars Or, walk on water as often fly without wings   For many hours I have found myself gazing My inspiration like being in the ocean, To hear the running and rushing of waters The simplicity of the gentle feel; celestial   The subtility of mind control Penetration of my head as heart The feat of my soul overcoming my fears, Tuned me sporadically, applauding me   Oh, love, you have come to quieten my troubles Aiding and adorning a pick-me-up memory bank, Love, of which I only hear and read of; is far removed Has no doubt crept upon me; made me a victim, beatified.

  Wild, eager and honied; a beauty to explore Delicate and portable she is, like scentful sunshine And her mouth, a sculpt; kissable, and succulent sweet   Yet being matured but child-like-limits the attraction Cheapening and masking the good qualities and virtue So, like quencher, ought only to be perched on   Hopefully, she would learn, but quick. For like carcass, I noted the vulture hovering. I pray she is not picked to bones before she wakes.   To see her character rebuilt as one; of the departed All that would remain to be; between the darkness And realisation that escorting needs the use of a lantern.

 Amen. To prayers, wants and whims or the cravings that came through To myriad other thirsts, itches, and lusts not gotten; lost like in daily dew Eloping as unfulfilled appetition; winged, chased by wicked day sun ray Leaving hollow bowel filled with the emptiness of all wants: That you are pursuantly high, dry, and weakened to have.             Another amen. To successful sweep away broken pieces: leaving this portrait that remains The fundamental needs, and not wants; the vanity of societal enslaving lures The prescription where one unfulfillment pigeonholes one’s destiny or Being In a knot finely rung to keep us all in our places; damned: No compensation.   That is us in the abyss. Where lives and living outside the prescription leads to further dejection Threatening bleakness with slamming gravel to extinguish lives of light At this point of a shackle, longingly chained, the writhing for want intensifies Our voiceless voices are amiss, milling m

 Why put yourself through full cream of scariness? Of excitement, disappointment and panicky compulsion? Considering the context of time, shortness of life and other things to do? Why embark on a madden of all insane-driven passion? What crazy creative intrinsically gene is the cause of such affliction? Why face a scary blank page, trepidation, ubiquitous shadow of failure, hell, pure hell? For me, I write to dream; yes, that is it; To connect with the world beyond, When I want how I want and where I want To leave a mark, a voice, and permanency in this world So that when after that I have gone to the hereafter My joy would remain the pleasure of building blocks of word on another, Firmly having fulfilled my burning desire to let the rioting words inside of me out To have the world in entity join me to explore my thinking I care less to prepare for failure and criticism than I ought or care to deal with Instead, ready to hit back with a rebound and redoubl

 My writing life hides in plain sight, Mind is always filled with conversations With snippets, lyrics, drama and all sorts Thoughts to papers, electronics or virtual I have turned the company I most cherish And not until I release the noise stay swirling So, as ideas strike like lightening, I scribble or click Sometimes, it is deadlines that spur me to action, Prompts do help guide me, as do sentence starters, The senses graphically organise, outline, structure, And when it is a poem, pictorially, it helps mentor texts Describing what I see, think, and how-feelings in an outpour As a laced musing emerges, the heart and mind come to peace.

  More facts are emerging about the Kuje prison attack. It was an insider collaborative job; unless the government reigns now, more attacks will follow. Beyond all the hue and cry, who ordinarily should hold up hands as responsible? Unless those who ought to show exemplary leadership, it can only get worse.

  I see bodies popping and peppering the streets And thinking, I ought to be packed in readiness, Places I could run to, my commune homes of poets, As for tickets, I have one stating, going nowhere   In my packed bag is my obituary already crafted, On my lips are the ever-continued constant prayers That whenever I lay me down to sleep, I forever pray Lord, my soul, take; for I could die before the break of day   All around us the enemies have weapons mounted and locked In the skies, the vulture wander, rising and dipping; expectant And daily the toll rises. I envy the dead; they are the lucky ones Their wait settled; now nestle with He who eternally loves them

Not being in my circle, I could not imagine his sort Till I sat to breakfast at his table him at the head I pictured his reception of a nobody that I am, no good Much as I tried, I could not as my heart was stuck in Thoughts of balancing the rich, their ill-manners to the poor   But factuality reigns at such time and clime, When reality compliments or trumps preconception To smithereens for the deeds like his accomplishments All eyes that care can see in bricks and mortar as with Others feeding at his tables or picking crumbs benefit.   As soft and relaxed as a peaceful night can be He reigns in total control of his dwelling place And as comfortable as, like the robed rose The master he looked on his magnificent slab Before a simple yet sumptuous breakfast   Chief Ade-Ojo is the rare raindrop among the rich Descent bloc among polluting publicity itching others That with the crown and bags of money majesty Gouge with looks every poor looking sou

 Mind Your Language: So, why do you need to mind your language? Do you know how it is that things you say can have an impact on people around you as well as your wellbeing and growth? Have you seriously given thoughts to the fact that the language you use in your social life is very, very crucial in building or destroying your relationship, on occasion irreparably? We often do not give deep thought to the implications of what we say to others and their impact. We would not see in most circumstances that our language is a part of the overall production of meanings in our social relationships. But they are crucial and critical aspects of our relationship. The use of language is much more than a matter of using either when it is applied in talk or writing per se. The use of language can build or chisel the foundational blocks of any and every relationship. And that use as part of the discussion is what I intend to analyse as discourse. So, as an introductory statement of meaning, what is