A peep into my soul, a lion resides,
Beneath a calm exterior, where sweetness resides.
But mark my words, dear ones, and take heed,
Never mistake my kindness for a gentle breeze.

I walk with grace, a lamb in this realm,
But hidden within, a fierce fire overwhelms.
For within this heart beats a powerful force,
A lion’s spirit, unyielding and untamed, of course.

Beware, those who underestimate my might,
For when the lion in me roars in the night,
A blaze ignites, fierce and ablaze,
Reducing my foes to ashes in its fiery haze.

So, remember, dear friends, with caution you tread,
For the lion in me will rise from its bed.
Respect my kindness, for it is not weak,
For when the lion roars, devastation it shall wreak.

Never take for granted this lamb’s gentle tone,
For beneath it all, a lion fiercely roams.
And when the inferno is unleashed, my foes shall see,
The power and strength that reside in the lion in me.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi

In the darkest hours of my troubled soul,
When sorrow’s tempests fiercely took their toll,
There stood a figure with grace untold,
My guardian angel, Aniel, I behold.

Tall and majestic, he reached the celestial skies,
His presence a beacon, a comforting guise,
With every step, he treaded light and free,
A soothing gait, as if walking on the sea.

His smile, a crescent moon, radiant and bright,
Bathing my heart in its celestial light,
Eyes like stars, reflecting eternal grace,
Guiding me through life’s intricate maze.

Oh, Aniel, you have been my rock, my guide,
Through every storm, you stayed right by my side,
In moments of despair, you lifted me high,
Your love, a shelter from every tear I cry.

Guardian angel, oh, never depart,
Let your wings enfold, protect my fragile heart,
Through the trials of life, let your presence be near,
Aniel, dear angel, forever stay here.

In this symphony of life, you are my song,
In your embrace, I eternally belong,
With gratitude, my heart forever swells,
For you, Aniel, my guardian angel, compels.

So, I sing this hymn, with love and praise,
To the one who guided me through life’s maze,
May your light forever illuminate my way,
Aniel, dear angel, forever here to stay.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi

(Say No to Female Genital Mutilation)

Let me take you to where anguish dwells,
And share a tale no heart repels,
A haunting echo from my past,
A cruel practice that scars so fast.

I, a vessel of untamed dreams,
Trapped in the web of silent screams,
A girl, innocent, young and pure,
With future’s light, yet unsure.

Within my land, tradition ruled,
A custom born in customs’ cruel,
Female Genital Mutilation’s grasp,
A nightmare’s touch, an endless clasp.

They led me forth, to a darkened room,
With trembling heart, I faced my doom,
Surrounded by faces, stern and cold,
Their hands, instruments, stories untold.

I watched in terror, the blade’s descent,
My fragile body, its innocence rent,
Sharp as sorrow, it tore through flesh,
Life’s essence stolen, dreams crushed afresh.

Oh, the searing pain, a relentless fire,
A whispered prayer, my soul’s lone desire,
My cries drowned in the deafening hush,
My spirit broken, turned to ashes and dust.

The bleeding wounds, a never-ending ache,
Bound by secrets, my voice too weak,
A stolen woman, in silent despair,
Scarred by the touch of hands unfair.

But know, dear reader, I am not alone,
Countless sisters, their anguish unknown,
Their bodies altered, their spirits marred,
Innocence shattered, forever scarred.

For FGM’s grip extends its reach,
Across continents, cultures, and speech,
Yet hope resides within our hearts,
A battle fought, where healing starts.

Together we rise, our voices reclaim,
Breaking the chains of silence and shame,
With love and knowledge, we shall ignite,
A world where darkness gives way to light.

So let this tale be a plea to all,
To stand united, to hear the call,
To end this practice, to break the chain,
And let each girl’s dreams forever reign.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi

UNICEF #worldhealthorganization #FemaleGenitalMutilation

In a humble village nestled deep,
Lived Ajoke, whose soul did weep,
A maiden fair, with dreams untold,
But her tale, in darkness, would unfold.

A foreigner came with eyes so bright,
To witness our world, bathed in light,
A tourist’s delight, he wandered near,
Unaware of the chaos he would soon bring here.

With innocence pure, I walked that morn,
Adorned in garments, my spirit reborn,
Little did I know, my steps to trace,
A heart-wrenching tale, my soul would face.

He charmed with words, a foreign tongue,
Like a spider’s web, his trap was spun,
His smiles deceived, his gestures kind,
But lurking beneath, a sinister mind.

Under moonlit sky, he took my hand,
Promising beauty, across distant land,
With wicked intentions, he led me astray,
To a place where my innocence would be betrayed.

In that desolate room, my world turned gray,
As the foreigner’s lust led me astray,
My cries unheard, my pleas in vain,
In that moment, my dreams were slain.

Each touch, a dagger, pierced my heart,
As he tore my world, and tore me apart,
My spirit shattered, my soul crushed,
In the depths of despair, my innocence hushed.

Days turned to nights, but my scars remain,
A burden I carry, a never-ending pain,
Through tear-soaked nights, I seek solace,
But the memories haunt, forever in place.

Oh, how I long for the world to see,
The agony and sorrow that consumes me,
But trapped in silence, my voice suppressed,
My tale lost in whispers, like a heart oppressed.

I cry for justice, for the wrongs I have endured,
For the countless others whose voices obscured,
May their stories be heard, their pain unveiled,
So no more young souls by monsters be assailed.

In this verses of tragedy and despair,
I share my tale, a burden I bear,
For Ajoke, a symbol of countless souls,
Whose spirits were shattered, their lives left in holes.

© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi