The Visit

I arrived.

Everywhere was calm as I went in.

Even the fountain was silent.

It was a site that welcomed me.

I walked past Olubunmi Adedayo

Ha! I can’t imagine how his mum is coping.

In Nigeria, the question is always...

How are the children?

Indicate one and the asker makes you feel it.

Then how is “daddy”?

You don’t speak Nigerianese, do you?

The asker means your husband.

Then they ask, how is business?

Is any of the three absent?

You need extra shoulder brace.

Thankfully, ogede Bunmi f’omo r’opo.

I was pensive.

I appreciated the wares used to adorn his site.

I walked past Mfon. Yes Pastor Mfon.

Who didn’t know him.

His smile remained angelic.

Rain or sun has not done any damage.

Obanure! Pastor Obanure oninure...

I saw him too, legs crossed, charming smile.

I walked passed others as my mood changed

Drawing me closer to mine, my own.

I greeted one of the staff... 

He must have responded. They usually do. 

I wonder what must run through their minds.

And they toggle two worlds...

The flowers greeted me with faded grin.

A sad reminder of reality.

I had natural there previously but they died.

They did not fade, they died.

Anything with an arrival date must depart.

Anything with a production date, must expire.

We look for it on products.

I wish it is clearly stated on humans too.

Then we’d hurry to tap into all they have.

We’ll tap into their special offer before expiry.

The artificial flower had faded.

The holders broken except for the sides.

They defied all odds to remain intact.

The staff arrived with cleaning materials

He apologised for the broken sides.

I mean the broken marble sides.

How could they be broken?

One pays so much; repairS should not wait. 

He apologised and promised to fix it.

I wish folks who made me a visiting candidate. I wish the would apologise and fix this.

I sat on the site to take out the broken holders. I sat comfortably to set the new flowers.

I could have bought natural.

But the trauma of repeated deaths.

I faced it ones but it was not in my control.

This was new and spoke to me in hues.

Green is for life... I have it now and I am living it

Temi had it too and he lives it... Yes lives.

My grammar is great, fix yours and move on

Green is for immortality.

As the staff got close to me, I motioned.

I held out my hand to receive the cloth.

He said no, shaking his head.

I insisted. It is the least I could do.

If he was on life support, I would clean.

I would cook and clear. 

I would wash and provide all the warmth...

He returned to fix the broken edges.

You are covered now. That was his words.

Temi said those words to me in angelic form.

Date was 11.02.16. Much earlier as apparition.

I continued to arrange and secure the flowers.

I was going to use the red roses.

I remembered our colour remained wine.

Wine Omolola; we adopted MAMI’s colour.

He won’t be happy I thought...

My plan was to take the wine home.

A constant reminder that our memory lives.

Temi remained a man of class.

Red would never have been acceptable. 

Red is not a substitute for wine.

Red does not know the calmness.

Red does not know the maturity of wine.

Like he was there addressing me...

I promptly swapped red with wine roses.

Wine means new birth and multiplication.

Wine means overflow...

The new life in me will one day tell.

The life I carry will tell the untold story.

Of how this great man was silenced by greed.

It was well past four, yet the sun flooded in.

It felt like God sent me company.

It was a visit where I had zero aniyan... 

I smiled. We both have a smile heaven knows.

Temi, I whispered. 

I just come to say I love you.

I looked at the date again. It needed a fix.

For some reason it reads 26.11.16.

It should read 26.02.16... 

Was it an error?

Or you never resided here until this date?

I know how many times I felt you walk by.

I look intently and you are really not there.

But I knew you were there; always with a smile.

White is for peace. The sun made it shine. 

I had an inexplicable calmness.

It felt like I have arrived at the beginning.

The beginning of the end of JUSTICE... 

Four years next month; 4 long years.

But right now, right here, I am convinced.

That justice looms, it will not tarry.

It is not just for me but for thousands like me.

A short word of prayer whose words...

Whose words I can’t remember. 

I glanced at your neighbours, left and right

10th of February 2016 Yinka Odunfa. 

That was a day before yours. 

12 of  February 2016 Mosunmola Badejo.

That was a day after yours

You are sandwiched between neighbours.

Older male who went a day ahead of you.

Older female who went a day after you.

A testament to your royalty. 

Technically your crown was honoured.

Two elesins accompanied you. 

Figuratively interesting.

I took images... I archive memories.

The flowers came alive after my arrangement.

I secured the beauty against wild wind.

It’s locked away in my heart.

I blew you a kiss as I always did.

Today I have no lamentation. I have peace.

As I walked away I saw the staff. 

I confirmed it was he who assisted.

I handed him a legal note.

It was not demanded or required. 

Just a sense of courtesy and appreciation.

As I left, I walked past a number of people...

Sinner or Saint only heaven knows.

Okoya, Orao 24... So young I thought.

The lives hold many secrets, talents, plans...

As I left, my eyes fell on Ibikunle. 

I doubt our paths crossed then but now...

I cannot visit without seeing him.

On arrival and on departure.

An elder brother to my alumni member...

She is on the other side of here... 

I visited there too... I fought back the drops.

5PM one called out. 5.02 the other insisted.

The guards were the least of my thought.

As I bid another farewell to Temi...

My beloved 18.06.57 - 11.02.2016