panoramic view of hemp fluttering like drunk butterflies

1/6/2022

By Niyi Williams

i.

& the first thing you see: a boy rolling paper
to poke the dawn
into submission
lighting the embers of his eyes
& inhaling the grace to face the hustle of the day
say, this ganja is a magic word
& it is how these boys know how
to become the fathers they never had
& in this, one excels the other

how far, omo ope!
fun mi ni eja kan nibeyen

can it be true that boys this age choose
to be the street boys you clutch your bags
away from?
the ones you look at with your
faces molded with disgust surprised that
a skinny bald boy already knows the art of
kissing fingers and puffing air?

one day
under the tree,
two ten-year-old boys sit
covered in a fog of smoked pawpaw leaves
- how would you like to be remembered?
- remembered? no one even knows (or cares about) me, so…
- i know, but assuming, just assuming o, how would you like to be remembered?
- hmm…maybe as a good boy that could do no good
- and?
- as a boy abandoned by parents, people, and society
- and?
- that’s all; i don’t care about them since they don’t care about me; so that’s all
- what about you?
- the same: i want to be remembered the same, not be remembered at all
no one cares about us -and that’s fine

ii.
in the evening, in the shanties, in the city
small street boys gather to talk about
the future, whispering prayers
into lit magic wands, cackling
as hemp smoke flutter like
drunk
butterflies

Writer's Biography
Niyi Williams is a Nigerian academic, writer, and poet. He is a poetry editor with The Augment Review and a SprinNG Writing Fellowship alumnus. He has works published on The African Writers, SerotoninPoetry, Punocracy, Fahamidan Journal, Nantygreens, The Quills, SprinNG, and elsewhere. Niyi holds a Master’s degree in English from the University of Lagos.

He is currently working on his first collection of poetry.

19 Comments

Kennedy Michael

1/6/2022 07:08:37 pm

Someday i hope the male is a little bit more protected and educated about the days ahead to prevent a world where they don't seek solace in vices

Anyinam Uzo Chinenye

18/6/2022 02:03:46 pm

Wow. I love this

Joshua Effiong

2/6/2022 11:59:14 am

Yesterday, my junior brother was almost picked up because he was in close proximity with two boys who were caught with weed in their possession. It makes we wonder if the we—the society have really taken out time to nurture the boychild. This poem came in handy and I love the places it took me to.

Meritborne

7/6/2022 06:11:41 am

I read, I reflect, I sigh. This place where I find myself is a mirror of the homes we couldn't build in the eyes of the street. And now, the built homes can no more walk in the street, not because of hemp, but because of the pains inspired in the brains of hemp's goal.

Esthere

12/6/2022 03:03:45 pm

Well said!

Sisi Teni

7/6/2022 08:03:14 am

I wish the society and government could do something worthy for those children. Most of them are out of school children, to cap it all they have deadbeat parents who care less about them. Our social workers should be given prominence to do their job. Government should have policy to protect the instead of children both boy-child and girl-child.

This is a very thoughtful wrote up and the message is clear. Kudos to the writer.

Oluwashina Ashiru

7/6/2022 01:55:40 pm

👏👏👏 This is a really good read.

Oyindamola

9/6/2022 05:48:57 pm

It makes sense how this message was so clear❤️
Because this is the major cause of the problem in the country nowadays

Manasseh Kenneth

11/6/2022 12:11:18 am

Parents most atimes give less attention to their male child.They think of them as future men but never nurture them to chose the right future.
Inspiring write-up.
Keep up the good work.

12/6/2022 03:03:08 pm

How do I want to be remembered? Hmmm!
Do you know, this is what I love about writing... It makes me think, feel and wonder aloud! I'm always fascinated with the human thought. And this beautiful piece made me relive moments where I wonder inwardly about what goes on in these kids minds on the street. Do they think about, how they want to be remembered? Do they actually have no care for tomorrow?
This piece is a 'wake up and do something' call
We've kids around us, make an impact positively in their lives. Promise- kimosape@gmail.com, you'll love this!

Promise

16/6/2022 08:32:16 am

Thanks for inviting me Esthere 😘.
I enjoyed reading his words, and I find comfort in the fact that since we do write about it then all hope is not loss.
This is a job well done😎. I hope we put actions to our words.

Elyon Jessemiel

13/6/2022 10:21:47 am

Very nice write up sir. I could see the picture you were trying to portray.

Zainab

13/6/2022 02:53:13 pm

Funny how society often frowns at something that could be said to be it's fault. When we do not care about the child or create an avenue for them to become their full potential, we are left with the consequences. Sadly, the boychild is not thought of as needing protection often. This is a very beautiful poem, one that provides an insight into the life of the children that neglect has molded into finding refuge in such activities. Kudos!

Diseph Victoria Gogo

15/6/2022 12:38:03 pm

They feed on weed yet it does not satisfy their need. They still heed because they feel they have been failed by those who lead. We longer know how we can take care of this breed.

Moyosolaoluwa Olowokure link

19/6/2022 04:30:19 pm

Really enjoyed the imagery here, it portrays ganja dependency among street children… “inhaling the grace to face the hustle of the day…”

Olamide Ojediran

20/6/2022 09:44:12 am

This poem paints a vivid picture of life in the slums. It tells us the reality of some people who were born in a not so pleasant environment. None of them chose to be born that way but unfortunately have to live with whatever life throws at them. This is a very honest and beautiful piece. Well done sir👏👏

Solomon Timothy Hamza link

23/6/2022 05:57:49 am

' how do you like to be remembered?'
The truth is every child growing up had a dream which he clasped within his palm tried to nurture into adult stage. Society and government plays major role in turning that child away from his/her set goals especially the male child.
This is what the poet has for us in his delightful poem which highlights not only the negativity attached to smoking, but the romance between neglect from parents and government which eventually give birth to agberoism in our society.
This ganja is a magic wand that teleports these boys into a different dimensions. The one that gives there eyes powers to see the shiny smartphone in your bags or pocket.
There's another magic wand which I believe has drawn me into loving this poem. It is the pen of the poet. Kudos to you!

Galadima link

24/6/2022 09:19:09 am

Funny how every parent use the street to scare their children into becoming something great. Especially in a Hausa land where there is a saying that says "a child belongs to all". This saying is what ancient parents used to train the society, believing that everyone has a role to play in every childs life in a society. But now the Hausa land is where you see more kids on the streets with no care, growing up to become God knows what!

Ayooluniyi

30/6/2022 07:27:03 am

“...small street boys gather to talk about
the future, whispering prayers
into lit magic wands, cackling
as hemp smoke flutter like
drunk
butterflies”

This poem is so beautiful and creative.

Niyi Williams in his poem painted a reality of the situation of street children, a part that is less spoken of. He gave some clues as to how they end up living on the streets and how they live, or exist within the society, in the sheer knowledge of what the society offers–abandonment, neglect, fear, pain, struggle...but they dream, they think about the future, they care about what the future holds, even though to them, there isn't much to do.

The last lines moved me and got me thinking about how life might be for street children, they have dreams too, and think about the future, what would they miss out on?

My favourite line is “...it is how these boys know how
to become the fathers they never had
& in this, one excels the other...” and then I love the title so much, it is rhythmic and made the poem alluring even before reading.

I really enjoyed reading it.

panoramic view of hemp fluttering like drunk butterflies

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Copyright @SprinNG 2023

​panoramic view of hemp fluttering like drunk butterflies

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Copyright @SprinNG 2023​

panoramic view of hemp fluttering like drunk butterflies

Copyright @SprinNG 2023