LITTLE PRAYERS
Oh Lord!
i want to stop fetching water into a Crab's hole.
Let there be Lilies.
if not, at least, let my hands harvest some Morning glories.
Let my hands contain saltless water.
if not, at least, give me an empty cup.
Oh Lord!
this is a request, not a scorn;
don't let these prayers become
another baby drowning in the sea.
in my belly.
at least, let its acceptance be the smoke
no hand could cover.
the belly every eye would see.
Lord! You're everywhere like air,
breathe life into this poem.
into this hope. into this space. Blow it into the breeze.
into the sea. into all the spaces
in my belly. into this world.
Oh Lord!
i want to stop fetching water into a Crab's hole.
Let there be Lilies.
if not, at least, let my hands harvest some Morning glories.
Let my hands contain saltless water.
if not, at least, give me an empty cup.
Oh Lord!
this is a request, not a scorn;
don't let these prayers become
another baby drowning in the sea.
in my belly.
at least, let its acceptance be the smoke
no hand could cover.
the belly every eye would see.
Lord! You're everywhere like air,
breathe life into this poem.
into this hope. into this space. Blow it into the breeze.
into the sea. into all the spaces
in my belly. into this world.
Ilorin, 2023
Abdulbasit Oluwanishola is a young Nigerian poet who writes from Ilorin, Kwara State. He's studying Agriculture in Usmanu Dafodiyo University Sokoto. His works are up or are forthcoming on Eboquills, Suburban witchcraft, Beyond the veil press, Troublemaker firestarter, CultureCult Press, Queer Toronto Literary magazine, Doublespeak magazine, Arts lounge, Synchronized chaos, and other platforms.
https://www.instagram.com/abdulbasit_oluwanishola/