"SCARS OF PASSION" BY AJAKAYE STRIDA AND MR. MICHAEL'S REJOINDER

Every second surrounds me with magnetic inspiration,

my ink is maddened or cuddled by literary consciousness.

Does writing call me or I do call writing?

This affection between us is weird,

but I am the only weirdo, for writing is the steering;

and I am the tyres of impact.

My passion to write smokes out secrets of life

that readers have never imagined.

Monied men keep threatening me over 

leaking their dark activities to the world.

So what? 

Should I stop writing?

Writing is a dictatorial passion,

Not only yours do I leak.

I leak mine and this stings.

Even if you lock me in a heaty blackroom,

I would use my tears and sweat 

to write on the walls.

© RASHIDAT OLAMIDAYO AJAKAYE

STRIDA... guiding you to striking confidence in academic and creative writing

2024

- Nigeria 

REJOINDER:

The poet is tethered to the Cross of Redemption says James Baldwin.

She must redeem himself and redeem his time. This is the vocation.

The poet must have the eyes to pierce through the hypocrisy of her time and even when she is implicated 

She must tell of the self-imprisonment of its generation 

The poet cannot afford to despair or be cynical.

She must aim for a Kierkegaardian authenticity 

She must rise up to the tasks of freedom and responsibility.

So Strida, the writing has chosen you. Like a barbed lanyard to wake our time from slouching into meaninglessness. Kudos @⁨AJAKAYE STRIDA⁩

© MR. MICHAEL ACHILE UMAMEH

- Nigeria