A train in the night

he shoves his mouth in a case
along with a jar of lies
home must now stay in the past
he meets his mother’s with tears

he’s off to another place
to learn well how not to dream
to learn to speak with one’s eyes
to be wary of new peers.

his wish is to return to
the place where he has a face
to where his dead father lies
to try to roll back the years.

now, the time is up and he dies.
beside his father, there’s space

Tomide Abdul