I HAVE A GIRL CRUSH(1) ‎ - Enenim Ubon

I have a girl crush.

Should I call her Dorian Gray?

My pants now she owns,

Brother hold my hand. 

I feel doozy but empty, 

Brother caution me not.

For Arcadia truly now I behold,

My grapes ripening without rains.

A smiling flowering rose I behold, 

A happy suckling ‎child I become.

All from your coloured glass, ‎

My own brother dear. 

Hold out your hands for me,

For I watched you hold her arm.

Let me have a feel,

Deny me not brother dear. 

The days run fast,

The hours hear not my prayer.

To the sealed walls I return, 

With dark eyes, 

And a fragrance of her mazel. 

Mock me not brother, 

For my lips sing not my hearts rhythm,

My courage only at night do blossom, 

It's butterflies overwhelm me by day still.‎

‎

Brother!!

My courage found its wings,

My lips its light embraced,

But my heart in darkness now trod. ‎

‎

“All you desired he said,‎

‎In vain I waited each bright day,

The coloured glass could hide you not,

The keys another now has”. 

“Some day i'll be your sorceress”‎

My fire these words rekindle, 

My soul in her fragrance immeshed, 

Brother you did me well truly. 

To the walls I return, 

A portrait of my black maiden,

I hold dear. 

I have a girl crush, 

My own goddess of Tigris. ‎ ‎

‎

©️ Enenim Ubon‎

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2017: YOUTH BUILDING PEACE. - Enenim Ubon

Today being a day set aside to celebrate the future of every nation, it is imperative we take a critical look at the contributions of youths to nation building and the hindrances. This year's theme is apt for me, considering the various actions and speeches of youths in my country and region within the last couple of months. 

Ours has not been a “bound in freedom, peace and unity” as our national anthem suggests. It's been crisis, threats and counter threats from all regions. Unsurprisingly these activities by youths have been supported by elders, who have found it convenient to make use of these vulnerable youths to achieve their selfish aims. 

The youthful energy, intelligence, ‎perseverance, beauty etc should be properly harnessed by both individuals and the society towards nation building; failure to do this(using Nigeria as a case in point) is inimical to the growth of any nation. 

Peace should not only be seen as the absence of physical conflicts, peace includes “the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality and a working political order, that serves the interest of all”; from the above, it can be deduced that for youths to be part of peace building in any society, the leaders have a role to play in ensuring that justice and equity thrive. 

When youths(as individuals) adopt the Confucius concept: REN - benevolence/humaneness , “not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself”, there would be a reduction(if not total elimination) of conflicts. 

In building peace, youths should realize that in situations of conflict, they bare the brunt as a large part of their lives will be wasted, this realisation will further inculcate the need for other avenues of conflict resolutions to be sought instead of violence. 

The youths should not allow their futures to be truncated by people who do not care about their survival nor their tomorrow, people who are only willing to satisfy their cravings, even if it will cost the lives of their 'boys'. 

For peace to be sustained a deliberate effort has to be made by governments to develop/strengthen institutions that will further enhance the intellectual abilities  ‎of youths to reason critically and be better positioned to fit into emerging opportunities. Youths also have to be willing to exploit the existing sturctures to better their chances of getting more in the future - leadership wouldn't be given cheaply, it has to be worked for. Instead of resorting to violence, a constant effort to harmonize their positions and make their voices heard will yield amore desirable result. Rather than use the platform the Social Media presents to constantly attack each other over issues that are in no way beneficial to their generation, the social media can become a viable tool to seek a change to existing structures and promote peaceful co-existense. 

As we mark this year's youth day, youths should not allow their futures to be hijacked by person/situations that will ultimately destroy them. No matter how dire the situation or how tense the atmosphere, a peaceful community is possible and the youths who have a lost to lose(in the absence of peace) have a duty to ensure this happens. 

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2017! 

The writer can be engaged @EnenimUbon on social media platforms.