RITA’S PLAYLIST

I came from the burial, in a somber mood, sat on the coach on my expansive parlour, in pensive and reflective mood I was in, when I spotted my iPod, sitting on the table in the living room.
I switch the iPod on, scrolled down to Rita’s playlist. The first song was in big contrast with my mood, it was upbeat, loud and danceable, and she always favoured, this kind of songs.
“You like commercial songs, songs with no meaning, songs just meant for you to dance” I said.
“Darling, you take life too serious, you prefer slow songs, songs with deep meaning”
She would pull me up, and we would dance to Dbanj, Faze, and lot of dancehall music, she was a jovial persona, always making me happy, we would go to parties and clubs together, I did all this with her and it was great fun.
We were poles apart, and like opposites we attracted, we were a perfect match, a mix of my introvert self with her extrovert self, everyday was an adventure, into a realm of discovery of each other, she could be the joker, full of funny tricks, she grow to be a necessary drug, like cocaine, and I couldn’t do with her.
Occasionally, I would give a dose of my quiet nature, we would stay in my bedroom and I would play jazz and some classic music, and she would lie in my arms and I would read her a story, from my repertoire of works, she would be glad and whisper in my ears, how much she loves me, We would stay like that with no care in the world.
This song broke me out of my reverie, it can’t be in her playlist, the song was I Miss you by Aaliyah. It was too slow, and was never there in her playlist.
“Could this be a message?” I wondered.
“Did she know she was going to leave me?”
The questions kept pouring in my mind; did she know she was going to die soon?

TWO WRITERS

TWO WRITERS
To be a writer is to journey on the road less travelled, it an arduous task, fraught with internal battles, conflicts with your mind. So it’s a thing off joy to interact with people, who have travelled on the road, and have reach El Dorado.
I am going to be talking about two of my writer friends, named ON and JD. ON and I met for lunch in one of the eateries around Lagos, for him to spare time out for me is well-appreciated, because as a celebrity he is a busy person, with a lot of travelling to do, book-in-progress, and what-not. The discussion was centered on literature and the book I am working on.
Our discussion revolved round, the idea of my book, point of view, voice, style, and he was very helpful, it was clear, he wanted to help and support, he gave me a suggestion of books to read, ideas to take note of, how to go about publishing, when my work is done.
I am indeed thankful for his contribution, because in this field of ours, there is no support structure, no mentoring from the established acts to the upcoming ones, those up the ladder, rarely give a helping hand. He also told me when he was working on his book; he was greatly assisted by JD.
JD is a senior colleague, he has won many accolades and awards for his writing, he is also a friend, even though I have not met him physically, he has aided this writing ambition of mine, by teaching me the intricacies of the game, I have not had any formal training on writing, reading his blog is the closest to learning I have ever had. I have read his blog cover to cover.
I would say he is a masterful teacher, indirectly given me a list of books to read, and I have read most of them, and taught me most of the things I need to know to be able to evoke a “wow” from readers. It is through him, I got to know, what plot, character, style theme, and narrative perspectives etc are? He is one of the few, who gives unrequited assistance to coming writers. Thank you JD.
Already established writers are busy people that we know, but then they need to give back to upcoming ones, I would like to call it a writers social responsibility (WSF) coined out of the word corporate social responsibility, they should try to give back by mentoring, giving seminars, and offering general help and assistance, to make the road smoother for the upcoming ones.
How would it be, if there are no writers to fill the void of the Wole Soyinkas, Ben Okris, Chinua Achebes and the likes, when they are gone?

Accident at maingate

Accident at maingate
chaos and bloodshed
shrieks of pain
cries of sorrow
panic attack of fear
strolling to an end
smoke and fire
impact and collision
metal hittting metal
man killing man
me a passerby
from my vantage position
saw the accident at maingate
saw recklessness rule
saw impatience decide
to bring injuries and death
to people at maingate
and tears fell from my eyes
seeing people i don't know
in so much pain and sorrow
i suspect the driver was drunk
or perhaps his brakes failed
but he fled unhurt
but the victims couldn't.

THOUGHTS ABOUT DATING

I am at war with the love of my life, but that’s not the big issue, it the way, she is taking it, she wants to leave me over a small disagreement, it seems she has adopted an attitude that there many fishes in the river, why would I waste my time with you, I feel it a terrible attitude that has crept into the world, people want to take the easy way out in relationships, there is no room for another chance, they never want to stick with the one they love and try and work things out.
I feel that’s the reason for the many break-ups and divorce in the society, gone are the days, it is for better for worse, I feel maybe because she is very beautiful, even as we were dating, she has many “toasters”, but moving to another may bring different issues, and she would still move on to another, that’s how the movement goes on, she keeps changing hands like money. I have a belief the different guys you date the more you keep moving because you would never be satisfied. As different as the sun is to the moon, so is the variation in different men.
I feel it high time we take dating as serious as courtship, if you know you can’t marry the person, then don’t date, it a waste of time, and it diminishes your worth for your dream partner, let chose our partners, by careful accessing if he is the right person, I mean if he or she is the kind of person you would like to marry before you date him.