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In: Anthology

Damn the Prayers of Permanency – Amina Akinola Bamidele

1940.
          The bones that carved my mother
               have yielded an album
          stones, sculptures. this is to say,
               damn all prayers of permanency

1972.
          I waded beneath the brims
               of distances, how his body
          once owned him, like reflections
              he forbade to flee. now, he walks
          with undefined stability, my father

1974.
          my mother had walked too
               my mother has poured away
          outside her skin, her hair, stretch marks,
               the joy in her breath, the strength
          in her bones, and for the first time

1999.
          I began counting drowning titles 
               at becoming an adult, or what
          is living if it is not a journey
               to expiration. draining bodies
          in search of safety, & we call it ageing

2010.
          my body harbours the doom of growth
               not me. I hold my little laughter
          fondly. in the beauty of the night, I wrap
               around my man, he calls me sugar
          this is to say; my chest is a holy temple,
               still,

2020.
          i am contented to know
               that i can never in years become
          an entity, than now. or how do you adore
               the melody of music when your head
          is buried in anamnesis of clamors?

2024.
          you will pour away like my mothers belly
               your name will be stuffed into candle
          flames, but before your tribute comes,
               i hope you leap a little, swinging
          to the voice of music before the wave
               claims your feet. i hope you love too,
          live a little before you leave

202….
          the bones that carved my mother’s
               mother remains, stones, sculptures
          damn! the prayers of permanency.


Amina Akinola Bamidele is a part-time poet/writer, community health professional, and graduate of Lagos State College of Health Technology. She’s currently a full-time student at Lead city University, Ibadan, an entrepreneur & a product developer student at Google. Her works are published and forthcoming in Asterlit Magazine, Brittle Paper, Efiko Magazine, IHRAF, Ice Floe, Lumiere Review, Maroko Magazine, Nigeria News Direct Poetry Column, South Florida Journal, Visual Verses, and others. Amina is a member of the Hilltop creative art Foundation, Lagos.