In Shaa Allah

Faidaro Tesleem

 

We were _from childhood_ taught aĀ 

word to earth our faith, our fears &Ā 

our wants. In Shaa Allah; meaning ifĀ 

God wants. Hope is another parasitic

demon that feeds on its host, it kills.Ā 

In Shaa Allah, this war will be over andĀ 

our husbands would be returned, unharmed.Ā 

 

A mother awaits her martyred son on the

same ground at which fate parted them.Ā 

In Shaa Allah, someday, anytime soon, I’dĀ 

see my son & again, kiss his forehead.Ā 

 

On this arid land, peace would come to stayĀ 

& In Shaa Allah, nothing would e’er exist toĀ 

chase it out. In Shaa Allah, this volcano would

stop & we all shall live to tell its tales, In Shaa Allah.Ā 

 

In Shaa Allah, birds would, again, dance

joyfully above our roofs. May the sounds ofĀ 

flutes and drums that tell about emergenceĀ 

of joy be revived, again. In Shaa Allah.Ā 

We’ll lift the lamp of solace & may it flutterĀ 

through the four edges of the world. In Shaa Allah.Ā 

 


Fadairo Tesleem is a young Nigerian poet who writes from Ilorin, Kwara state. He is a teacher, a poetry coach and a literary critic, as well as a member of the Association Of Nigerian Authors. His poems are published or forthcoming in Fiery Scribe Review, Pangolin Review, Queer Toronto literary magazine, Arts Lounge, Best of Africa, & a host of other publications. He tweets @Olakunle.Ā 

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