Slowly-
almost unnoticeably-
we learn to keep warm
with the flames around our hearts.
We sing along
to the silence of the night
and unravel in the secrecy
Of unknown seas at dusk.
Come morning
we patch our torn skins
in graveyard tunes
and lend our hearts to the sun
Maryam Yusuf Zubairu is a school teacher and poet. She writes from kaduna, Nigeria. She has keen interest in the art of hosting book chats and a number of her works can be found on her instagram page @emwhyzee__.
She was the second runner up of the Gimba Suleiman Hassan Esq Poetry Prize 2023. Her poem “My ancestors wildest dreams”, got long listed in the Brigitte Porson Literature Prize 2023. She has performed on cozy stages and before roaring audiences at For the love of poetry, Kano and Kaduna Hilltop. She is passionate about her deen, words, the moon, taking long walks and self betterment in all parts of life.
