Last year, I took part in the SprinNG writing fellowship. It seemed absurd (at least to me) to turn a relaxing hobby to an intense 6-week rollercoaster of writing and rewriting. My assigned mentor Iyanu Adebiyi didn’t make it a smooth ride with constant revisions upon revision of my poems.The most challenging writing prompt wasContinue reading “WHY DO I WRITE?”
Author Archives: Adefola Toye
AFTER DAWN
Solace You give To the restless in me Comfort I receive In the milieu of Your peace Of all the open spaces I have been, none has been more ingrained in my memory like the musallah (Muslim prayer area) at my student hostel as a final year architecture student. Queen Amina Hall was definitely notContinue reading “AFTER DAWN”
UNTITLED
The poem…leads to the awakening of better days to come. This poem was written in 2017 at a time the world seemed to be in total chaos. News of conflicts and killings by fellow humans and those in authority rang on tv screens almost everyday. It is disappointing although not unsurprising that the same ringsContinue reading “UNTITLED”
FLAWED?
“…loving ones uniqueness in itself makes one beautiful” This is one of my favourite written works. It clearly reiterates that loving ones uniqueness in itself makes one beautiful. I can’t imagine why they keep cringing With their gazes terrifying And their stares penetrating The very skin they deem unfit Ugly, flawed,deficit Its uneven colouration AttractingContinue reading “FLAWED?”
BETWEEN THE PAGES
“Maybe this is why we read, and why in moments of darkness we return to books: to find words for what we already know.” Alberto Manguel To read Is to live Is to see Beyond the covers A world where countless possibilities still exists. In times of uncertainty and trouble, reading can become a soothingContinue reading “BETWEEN THE PAGES”
THIS TOO WILL PASS
No matter how long the nightmorning always comesNo matter how stormy the cloudsthe skies always clearNo matter the hardshipthere is always ease hassanah I never imagined that I’ll ever experience a global pandemic in my lifetime. It just seemed like what you read in history books. Well its what it is, and definitely real. ItContinue reading “THIS TOO WILL PASS”
BEFORE DARK
Ending the day with a beautiful sunset I bask in the delight of the magnificent sunset My arms free from the chains of day My heart leaping for the night to come -hassanah
ARCREATE 1.0
Photo with a Poem was present at the ‘Arcreate’ exhibition which held recently on 26 February, 2020 at the Department of Architecture, University of Lagos. It was a wonderful and inspiring experience. GALLERY One of our recent poems ‘Pilot’ made it to the exhibition with another stunning photograph.
FOR KHAMIS
To the people and the moments No matter how ordinary or old That make us who we are In the bland and ordinaryThe simplethe boringYou’ll findriveting storiesThose unheardnor toldBecause sometimesour best timesare hidden in plain sight -hassanah
AFTER DAWN
…………………………………………… To see the first glimpse of light To hear the early croaks and chirps To breathe air so fresh and new Is to watch,listen and feel As the world wakes …………………………………………… As light seeps in Against the dawn The crickets and aves and humans alike Soon will rise With their voices tearing away TheContinue reading “AFTER DAWN”
Photo with a Poem 