Abridged Pathology of a System under Lockdown
by Ayokunle Betiku
first the body embraces confinement
as a fast
interlude within the immune walls of
living
cells roses sprout from the elastic
skins
of streets & highways bristling with
grave
silence the heart beats well till the
rising
figures of fallen bodies go viral &
cripple
a nation’s system the walls of living
cells
get rigid & extend after heavy bouts
of infections
plague the nation empty stomachs
develop guts
& leave the walls some captured by
hosts
in olive fatigues the eyes long for
sights
behind window blinds & everything
held
in shadows leaves the body yearning
to embrace
faces sun rays & a reed organ in the
open field
Source: From the Isolation Issue (September 2020)
Abridged Pathology of a System under Lockdown
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AYOKUNLE SAMUEL BETIKU is a Nigerian writer who sees his fingers as bridges between his heart and the world. His works have appeared in journals and anthologies, including Parousia, Monus, EOPP, BPPC, Kalahari Review, African Writer, Libretto & elsewhere. He lives in the city of Ondo, South West Nigeria, from where he writes.
