Leaving

it took this long to realize
that i was wasting time
watering flowers already rooted
by the bank of a fast flowing river
no wonder, my efforts meant nothing.
there’s no reason why a gully
would ever become a river
or a lake become an ocean
people would always be themselves
no matter how much we try
to tell, wail, and even pray
know when to bail yourself
walk away, run if you must
the first step towards healing
is an acceptance of what isn’t.

Victor Oyedele