A Poetic Prelude to Àánú Ìfẹ́ by Lara T. Kareem

Time slips through my fingers,
an ever-racing tide,
I wish to hold its whispers tight,
and grasp the fleeting light.

My heart’s desires, like harmattan’s dust,
scatter in the wind,
moments of connection lost,
where tender dreams had been.

Life, unyielding in its grind,
demands my every breath,
no space for peace, nor rest or calm,
just ceaseless toil and sweat.

Grief, a relentless shadow cast,
its silence hard to bear,
like echoes fading in the wind,
though I reach, there’s nothing there.

Fortunes shift like desert sands,
promises dissolve with time,
the hopes once held in open hands,
now burdens too heavy to carry.

Lost to time, their living warmth
no longer fills the air,
and so I cling to fleeting whispers,
in dreams where they leave trace.

The first poem, “Lost in the Void,” captures the protagonist’s emotional detachment as she struggles with an overwhelming weight of loss. Life feels like a relentless grind, and she finds herself disconnected from others and herself. This poem sets the stage for the journey ahead, reflecting the initial emotional isolation that mirrors the protagonist’s experience as she navigates an uncertain world.

City slips away,
train hums past roads and wild plains,
the village draws near.

In the fertile soil,
her hands find forgotten roots,
life begins to bloom.

Light breaks through the haze,
shadows of her past dissolve,
hope stirs in her chest.

In "A Quiet Unfolding," the protagonist begins to leave behind the chaos of her past, finding peace in the simplicity of her new surroundings. As she reconnects with herself and the world around her, the poem reflects her quiet journey toward healing. This is a turning point, where hope begins to stir, and the slow process of renewal unfolds.

Sunlight rests on familiar walls,
years have etched their quiet mark,
roots unseen but ever firm,
hold the ground where time has passed.

Threads, once frayed, draw close again,
familiar hands rebuild the trust,
and in this mending, laughter stirs,
weaving joy through what was lost.

Where once was doubt, a glow now grows,
shared desires ignite a flame so bright,
in tender glances, warmth takes hold,
new love that feels like home.

Stars rise where they always have,
guiding through the darkest hours,
constant as the ground below,
a light when wandering feels too far.

In these faces, life returns,
and here, where love has found its way,
what has always been remains,
whole once more, for now, complete.

Finally, "Return to Self" represents the culmination of the protagonist’s emotional journey. Through the love and support of those around her, she finds her way back to wholeness. The poem reflects the power of community and love, showing that through these connections, the protagonist can mend broken bonds and reclaim her sense of self.