Written by Adedayo Ademokoya

My body is a bird &
this country is a cage.
You never know why I
never sing. For the earth
underneath is hot that my
wings have forgotten its
language & my lips its
melody. In this body, I’m
stifled & my strength lacks
the ferociousness to call.

This body is not what I bargained for
this cage is not where I will sing
all my hopes gone to sleep forever
this country is me & my beaks are locked
in the midst of dust and vacuum, I rise
but this dirge is not for me to sing
I have lost myself in me & now, you know
why this caged bird will never sing.