TÈMI NI TÈMI
I see many coming and going;
A soft gentle breeze toying
With a woman’s lillac gown whose
Swollen belly seems to take her weight.
Seating on a cemented boulder-
Is a woman who is seriously
Engaged in her conversation
With a few others who are sat
On a tiled floor, laughing
At a silly joke.
The sky so blue and beautiful
Overlooks the green landscape,
Flanked by yellow and blue buildings
With colourful debris lying here and there.
Noises pour into the compound
From different rooms and offices;
Babies wailing, mothers in the labour room-
Screaming at the tops of their lungs,
Nurses shouting at Patients,
Flies seating on my legs awaiting a story.
Gently, gently, the breeze blows
As though dancing with all the noise,
Gracefully waltzing in and out;
The evening air like a keeper of secrets,
Whistling and laughing yet
Comforting and loving.
In all this, the song in my head consoles me,
Streaming in from my earphones,
Tèmi ni Tèmi,
Sung slowly by a rich masculine voice,
Reminding me of life, forgiveness and love...
© IYERE PERPETUAL (26th March, 2023)
Tèmi ni Tèmi translates to Mine is Mine
