TheQuillPen

“I am ready to face any challenge that may be foolish enough to face me.”- some NPC on ‘Good pizza, Great pizza’

246

Writings

Followers

Following

TheQuillPen

“I am ready to face any challenge that may be foolish enough to face me.”- some NPC on ‘Good pizza, Great pizza’

246

Writings

Followers

Following

Lagos girl

TheQuillPen

1 min read

I can’t sleep without car horns

Because my thoughts get too loud

I can’t see stars well at nighttime

Because headights drown them out

The city raised me heartily

Like I’m it’s only child

But taught me to live a cramped life

Where space cannot be found

A hectic, sleepless, screaming bubble

Of people tryna make it big

I’m one of them, I suppose

Been one since I was a kid

I talk smack, it’s my fo...

Poetry

“Nija no dey carry las”

TheQuillPen

1 min read

We weren’t born with silver spoons

Or silver Jaguars and Channel perfume

We were born where the streelights don’t shine

So we lit the world with firey minds

We dance to the beat of our talking drums

Cornrows and braids jet black in the sun

Or brown like our skin like fresh meatpies

Or beneath the rich earth where our heritage hides

Black girl magic was born in these streets

Girls who’ve seen all...

Poetry

Come Home

TheQuillPen

1 min read

‘Come home.’

‘I don’t want to.’

My voice hitches momentarily

Knuckles white on the steering wheel

Nails digging into leather

‘This isn’t a request it’s a command.’

‘You can’t make me.’

My heart pounds shamefully

My face heats up

Rain peppers the window

‘I am your father.’

I swallow.

‘No you aren’t.’

I turn on the ignition;

She roars to life.

He roars over the phone

As I drive far away fr...

YA fiction

Plain Clothes

TheQuillPen

1 min read

There’s rock candy in my mouth.

I watch the cars pull into the parking lot, Parents come to pick their young’uns.

By a red car stands a short round man Exchanging words with his contrasting daughter.

The girl’s life last night took a turn for worse

But Daddy dearest doesn’t want to learn:

What a girl has done is not always her fault,

And if one life is birthed, another will be taut

She twirls h...

Poetry

YA fiction

Platonic Soulmates pt.4

TheQuillPen

1 min read

As I looked into your eyes,

I saw my future go up in flames

Is this all normal?

To look the devil in the eye and ask him to

“Call me by your name”?

I wonder if I’ve hit it,

The limit of my sanity

Dining with the devil

Left me with the mentality

That every cloud has a silver lining

And every dagger is double-edged

Who am I to judge

The words of a fallen prophet?

And so I looked into my mirror

Look...

Poetry

Romance

Call me

TheQuillPen

1 min read

Tick goes the clock

We’ve been talking since five o’clock

My hand twirls my curls

Like your voice, they are soft

Tick goes my watch

My phone still a-buzz

It’s my wingman

It makes time a construct

Tick goes your phone

It doesn’t ship us

We have so little time

Maybe that’s the cause

Tick goes my mother

She’s standing in the door

She says you’re bad influence

We can’t call anymore...

Poetry

Romance

Streetlights

TheQuillPen

1 min read

Streetlights don’t shine around here

We follow our hearts to our destination

We know we may crash or stumble in the dark

But we’ve learnt to survive any situation

Black shines brightest

Thank God that’s our skin

You’ll spot our brethren in every city you’ve been in

We are like the stars

You can never count us

But they’re reflected in our eyes

Eyes that sing our anthem

Streetlights don’t shine a...

Poetry

Beehive

TheQuillPen

1 min read

Twisted flower crowns at the start of summer

No more raindrops litter our textbooks

No more rubber bands for our necks and our wrists

No more hair packers to make us look like students

Twist and twist, little lady

Twist your flower crown

Everyone has one

You must join the crowd

Queen bee has one

Worker bee made it for her

Clap little lady

We are all in order

Tear, little lady

Rip that flower cr...

Poetry

Forbidden Romance

TheQuillPen

1 min read

You fill me up with liquid joy

A commodity sold in cheap bottles

Or small packs, or midnight snacks,

Whatever you can afford

Your prescence keeps me company

An ember in the night

A sweet song in a turbulent storm

I long for you

I love for you

My dear dark amour

My dear drug supplier...

Poetry

Romance

I don’t forgive you

TheQuillPen

1 min read

I was cleaning my bathroom this morning

With a sponge and

You knocked on my front door

You knocked on the door that you slammed in my face

A couple years ago, a couple years and ten days

From today, but that doesn’t matter ‘cause you’re staring in my face

You’re too late

So why, why, why, WHY

do I still give you a second chance?...

Poetry