ADESIYAN OLUWAPELUMI
ode to my three year old sister
i have watched you put black tapes
over parts you didn’t want others to see
you think this will help hide the bruises of your pain
but a minuscule rests on the crimp of your left cheek.
you don’t want me touching you
for my hands remind you of his face
his face which is a replica of mine.
at conception, your first words was a song
now your lyrics are silent screams.
no one hears but i do
the heavy thudding coming from your chest
something’s cursing itself trying to rip its skin from your body
i know the next days will be hard
but i want you to do it singing
Adesiyan Oluwapelumi,TPC XI, writes from Ogun state, Nigeria. He was the winner of the Cheshire White Ribbon Day Creative Competition(2022) and an Honorable mention in the Asterlit Winter Awards (2022). Some of his poems are published or forthcoming in Poet Lore, Poetry Wales, IHRAF, Brittle Paper and elsewhere.