Upon the stage of life, a solemn play,
I danced within the confines of his will.
Each bruise a mark of love turned to dismay,
Yet silence bound me tighter, cold and still.

The chains of expectation held me tight,
A prisoner to the whispers of the crowd.
Religion’s grip, a shadow in the night,
A shroud that stifled every cry aloud.

I feared the judgment of the eyes that watched,
Their gaze a weight upon my weary soul.
Yet still, I wore the mask, though pain was botched,
And bled in silence, hidden from control.

Each day, I patched my wounds with trembling hand,
A martyr to the cause of love gone sour.
My spirit shattered, like a grain of sand,
Yet still, I bore the weight of my own hour.

From today my story will echo through the years,
A warning to the hearts that dare to break.
For though I smiled, my eyes betrayed my fears,
A shattered vessel, for love’s cruel sake.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi
2024

With brothers’ dreams fulfilled, a path now clear,
I ventured forth, shedding every fear.
Through perseverance and unwavering will,
I carved my own destiny, rising higher still.

From the shadows of sacrifice, I emerged,
With determination as my guide, I surged.
Each step forward, a testament anew,
To the strength found in what I once withdrew.

I built a name, not just for me, but for us all,
A legacy of resilience, standing tall.
For Abike, the one who sacrificed it all,
Triumph awaits, beyond every rise and fall.

A song of victory following our family like a tail,
Of sacrifice, resilience, and how we prevail.
For after ensuring my brothers’ flight,
I soared to heights, fueled by their light.

With gratitude in my heart and dreams unfurled,
I hugged the world, a beacon in the whirl.
For in between sacrifice and success,
I found my purpose, amidst life’s endless quest.

I am Abike
And I am the sacrifice.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi
2024

As the hush of night approaches, I pen my heart’s tale,
Of love entwined with bittersweet regret,
For though beside my husband’s side I dwell,
Another memory I cannot forget.

His name, a whispered echo of the past,
His touch still lingers in the depths of me,
In dreams, I find myself entwined, steadfast,
Lost in the arms of what used to be.

Though fate has drawn us far, our souls remain,
Bound by a thread that time cannot untie,
In quiet moments, memories reclaim,
The love we shared beneath the moonlit sky.

Oh, how I long to hold him once again,
To feel his heartbeat, steady, next to mine,
Yet here I lie, in passion’s silent reign,
Where fantasy and reality entwine.

My heart, a battlefield of love and duty,
Caught between the present and the past,
For though I am my husband’s loving beauty,
My soul still wanders where true love was cast.

Behind the dark curtains of the night, I hide,
The secret longing that I cannot tame,
For in my heart, he will always be beside,
The one who kindled love’s eternal flame.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi
2024

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The mirror can testify how I paint a smile,
But inside, my heart’s in turmoil, vile.
Doctors’ words, like thunder, they rang,
My kidney’s failed, a silent pang.

No, you don’t know the depths I dive,
Behind this mask, how I strive.
Each day’s a battle, unseen, unheard,
My spirit’s shattered, like a broken bird.

I laugh and joke, play my part,
But inside, I am torn apart.
The pain, the fear, it never sleeps,
Like a shadow, it silently creeps.

I long for solace, a moment’s peace,
To let the tears flow, to release.
But I soldier on, with a facade so strong,
Hiding the truth, pretending I belong.

No, you don’t know the nights I have cried,
The endless ache I try to hide.
Each smile I wear, a fragile shell,
Hiding the chaos, I know too well.

No, you don’t know!
Not a single clue to show
Yet I will remain brave
Hoping for faith, a way to pave.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi
2024