the muezzin cries
during adhan
& the mosque died
into the subtlety of
grieving carnations
how do you look
into the eyes of an
unfamiliar imam, leading
the prayer with an unfamiliar
tone?
the muezzin called the
adhan with sprinkle of tears
& memories of the imam
confront the mosque: this
is an unfamiliar friday in an
unfamiliar ramadan.
the adhan left the muezzin’s
lips in scatteredness & in pains—
the kind of pains concealed
the pains the tongue can’t carry
the kind of pains that sinks into
the soul like the voice of osinachi
the muezzin cries while calling to prayers.
Odu Ode
April 15th, 2022
