MY FATHER CLUTCHED HIS SONG IN HIS THROAT.

By Zaynab Iliyasu Bobi

the first time my father sang

a line from his song,

he ate bullet meals.

once, twice & next, & next.

on the last stretch of meal,

he clutched the song in his throat

and laid in the foul puddle of fear

that kept mopping his heart days and nights. 

he let go of the song

when it was too heavy to hawk,

and bullets took up the task.

my mother didn't weep.

she closed his eyes

and kissed his forehead.

on a Wednesday morning,

she washed their wedding photograph,

and bathed the flower she picked from his grave.

i asked her how my father

will smell from the petals

she said, "kamar kamshin jarumi".

Glossary: Hausa language

Kamar— like

Kamshin—smell

Jarumi—hero

Zaynab Bobi, from Bobi, Niger State, is a Nigerian writer, digital artist and a photographer. She is a finalist of the voice of peace anthology, the treasurer Hilltop creative art, Abuja branch and member of poetry club udus. Zainab, is a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto studying medical laboratory science.

Her works are published and forthcoming in Kalahari review, Blue marble review, Slegdehammer Lit, PraxisMag, WRR, Anti-Heroin Chi, Barren magazine, Type house literary magazine, Rigorous magazine, Acropolis journals, Olit magazine, The shallow tales review among others.

Find Zaynab on social media: Twitter @ZainabBobi, Facebook @Zainab Iliyasu Bobi, and Instagram @Zainab_i_bobi