All Things that are Not – Salihu Aminu (Nigeria)

Of umbrellas that drench,
Under roofs that leak.
Of pens that clean,
With erasers that write.
Of words that are silent,
Written on books that only listen.

Of jokes that evoke tears,
And pains that incite smiles.
Of laughs that end with cries,
And cries that end with laughs;
Coming from faces that are blank.

Of words left unsaid,
Messages: unread.
Stories: uncovered,
And memories declined.

Of things that are not,
And nothings that are things,
In a life that is dead.

This poem was published in the 12th Issue of PoeticAfrica magazine.
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