I hope it makes your friends happy

my heart to you as a permanent loan
ours should have been the wind – blowing freely
until you left for Kenya on your own
to explore, meet men who speak Swahili

ours was supposed to be oil on water
sinking and immediately rising
but you let another be the plotter
tick, tock, you were up for advertising

for the times you lied, for the nights I cried
the hurt, the several disrespects for clout
for the times you were missing by my side
I leave your conscience to gently sprout

‘for my friends’ – I hope it made them smile,
send my greetings to them, it’s been a while.

Tomide Abdul