How to Fall in Love Again in August by Rachel Rabo Magaji

How to Fall in Love Again in August

they all look the same to you.
aunty Yetunde has repeated
'beware' like they were dogs,
always on heat.
prancing on their hind-limbs,
looking for a game to play;
but you're a woman, not a bitch.
 
papa said; 'they are passing cars.'
they'll fade into thin air
as soon as they appear.
changing colors like clothes.
gifting them a heart
will mean digging early graves;
but you're a woman, not Santa. 

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August brings the fifth man
to your doorstep.
'I'm not like the others'
he whispers into your ear,
as your bodies snuggle together
under a sky filled with stars.
but you know;
fates are not what you believe
in, neither are faith.
they don't align with the sky,
to birth signs;
besides, you're a woman,
not a believer.
 
you pick up shards of your broken heart/ interwoven with bleak memories/
/you open doors you had shut/ clean out the dust/ even a dog love clean sheets.
 
you mount your oars to sail forbidden waters/
/blind to the knowledge of tomorrow /prepared to dance once, twice and thrice offbeat;
since no one knows how long the music will last.

Rachel Rabo Magaji also known as dr’rae, is a writer, singer, page and spoken words poet, digital marketer, photographer and environmentalist. She’s a graduate of Environmental Management at Kaduna State University, Nigeria.

​Her literary work has been featured in hedgerow #130, haikuniverse, femku issue 21 and abbyamam's blog.

Connect with her on Instagram: @dr_raeee Twitter:@rachierabson Facebook: Magaji Rachel

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