Bye

to live and leave only my truth
something would have to live after me
for it is the fruit I must birth:
burning fire or cold ash.

like plants like man
every thing from the beginning
would unfailingly reach their end
to live and leave only my truth.

to walk on a river bank
is to give the sand something
to talk about with the wave
something would have to live after me.

to live with the consciousness
that one day I’ll wake and
not rise so I make peace with all women
for it is the fruit I must birth.

whoever puts ink to paper
about the life I would live
would decide if I was a
burning fire or cold ash.

Victor Oyedele