Stray bullet?

Nurudeen Mikaila

Tuesday 8 April 2025

A wild whistle deflates the ruffled wind

The tense coliseum stiffens feeling for its luxated spine

Rumours of an impending bullet puncture, shove;

anxious dick-and-harrys Into shades

Victims of the blow exchanges into shacks and shelters

Another down!!

Comes the news whirring majestically aloft dust

Spiralling into our leather coated ear-drums

And rolling behind, a convoy of puzzlement

As to the assailed...

"Fleet or foe" tiptoe the whispers stealthily scaling the electrified fences of eager lips

But the eyes of the courier and recipient both hurl their eyes at the sweaty sky for a quick tete-a-tete...

Null!!

But alas every hungry ear straightens up

Rummaging the ear bursting silence for a single din

And it dramatically arrives in screams and wails

Frenzied Supplications soar over the chaotic space

Compassionately ejected for safe passage of the deceased

"Stray bullets" The cry padlocks our empathy ready lips

"A little lad" Reigns the rumour

"She was hawking/buying tomatoes them

When the aberrant pellet assailed her little head

Bless her good soul, rest in peace"

These faces deformed with pity produce..

And the backbiting guns startled from their snooze spring back to action..

As these metallic killers engage in an exchange of curses

with their deafening, life-threatening baritone...

And tell me,

Does/should life go on?