One Poem by Fadairo Tesleem

 

THE GIRL THAT TAUGHT ME LOVE

 

 she said:

"stand adjacent her window and sing

her serenades - songs that penetrate minds,

arrest ears & imprison hearts" - that's another

way of loving a girl without saying it.

 

kneel beside her feet, behold her face

& confess what shows over it - glitters -

tell her moon steals from her brightness.

 

tell her to halt breathing, to feign death

& watch life choke out of you, that's to

say you breathe with her soul, tell her

there's a space, wide enough to harbour

you in her heart till forever.

 

tell her an handicap isn't a person without

legs or hands, but a man whose heart

isn't in his realm, but in the tender palms

of his lover & that makes you one.  these are

ways of loving a girl without literally saying it."

Fadairo Tesleem is a young Nigerian poet that writes from Ilorin, Kwara state. He is a teacher, a poetry coach and a literary critic. Tesleem is a final year student of "Kamal school of Arabic & Islamic studies" Ilorin, Kwara state. He is a member of Hill-Tip creative art foundation, Kwara state branch, also a member of "Association Of Nigerian Authors" ANA, Osun state branch.

His poems are published or forthcoming in Fiery scribe review, Pangolin review, Queer Toronto literary magazine, Arts lounge, Best of Africa, Blue Minaret, Down in the dirt, Ninshãr arts, Blue pepper, Upwrite magazine, Inverse journal, Eremite poetry & a host of other publications. 

He tweets @Olakunle.