a love poem

the moon —

is a poem I always write. when

I’m down. i catch the sight. of you.

traipsing back to God.

I’ve watched you enough.

to say if life snatches you from me,

i sketch you. on my lines. like the river

between us.

saying —

if flowers be wildflowers,

watch it soften at your smile.

I’ve written political poems,

but now. I do not want to write about

my brother’s ghost. the way it catches me in my sleep.

turn me back. to where I started.

(oh! I’m writing political poems again!)

i do not mean. if you revolt, bullet will

nudge into you, even if you wear stone.

on your skin. a bullet turns you to stone.

i write about flowers. we picked

together in our vineyard. oh!

how beautiful it was!

watch how you tense. into past as if

you died yesterday. Dear God!

I pray this fire doesn’t warp me. when I start to

write love poems. without remembering my

brother.

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Tajudeen Muadh is a poet from Osun State, whose works have been featured in Trollbreath Magazine, Brazenhead Review, Strange Horizons, Eco Punk Literary Magazine, and elsewhere. Find him on X @tajudeenmuadh01.