The rain basks in humid slumber, whilst grandma’s roses wilt—
Hearth of earth wallows in defeat
and I stay lost and bare—
My strength died beneath the scorching siege
and my fate wanders—
I pray the night for relief.
The day is forlorn
in the yellows, blues and reds of phantom magic—
I don’t know the colours of nature no more—
All I see is the brown shade of its death.
© Oyeleye Mahmoodah Temitope
Mahmoodah Oyeleye (she/her) is the sixteen-year-old Nigerian author of Faded Blues and a member of Hilltop Creative Arts Foundation. She has been shortlisted for literary prizes including the Writefluenza horror/suspense/thriller contest (2021), Abubakar Gimba prize for short story (February 2021), Wakaso Poetry prize (May 2021), Chinua Achebe Poetry Anthology Prize (2021) and BKPW poetry contest (February 2022). She is a Muslim, a foodie and a fan of Mobile games.
