I have sent emissaries to the land of the dead,
But my letters have remained unread.
I have laid wreathes at your tombstone
But my heart cannot move on.
I wish I could send you off with bliss and laughter;
Enrapture you with obsessive love.
Alas, your memory of me was snaked
With pain. Let the dead forgive,
Let the dead forgive!
Please, leave me to grieve
And live in peace.
———-
Poem: Tolu’ A. Akinyemi
Image: Jr Korpa on Unsplash
Tolu’ A. Akinyemi (also known as Tolutoludo & the Lion of Newcastle) is a multiple award-winning author in the genres of poetry, short stories, children’s literature, and essays. His poems have appeared (or are forthcoming) in the 57th issue (Volume 15, No. 1) of the Wilderness House Literary Review; The Writers Cafe Magazine Issue 18; GN Books; Lion and Lilac; Agape Review; Continue the Voice; My Woven Poetry; Black Moon Magazine; Calla Press; Football in Poetry 2 Anthology; and elsewhere. He is a co-founder of Lion and Lilac, a UK-based arts organisation, and sits on the board of many organisations.
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