Fatima Abdullahi is a Nigerian-born writer and poet, though she once hated the genre. She’d thought it was pretentious and was trying too hard. Then she joined Robert Frost on his road not taken, and her whole world changed.

Black Boy 

It is in me to spin tales

crafting them from dreams and 

the promise of a smile

What better story then, than you?

You—a mystery, inside a riddle, wrapped in an enigma

You—of the Nile, and the Savannah, and the Volta

fears hidden underneath marked flesh

Black boy; black love black sorrow

Painted by life with the footsteps of your ancestors,

a kaleidoscope of colours left behind

You—cherished by the sun, her illuminations 

a caress on darkened skin

You—who sifts the seas and walks among stars

I dare to speak to you, of you,

in you, with you

For what better story, than you?


Contributor’s Bio

Fatima Abdullahi is a Nigerian-born writer and poet, though she once hated the genre. She’d thought it was pretentious and was trying too hard. Then she joined Robert Frost on his road not taken, and her whole world changed. By the time she found out about Laila and Majnoon, she was in love. A graduate of Mass Communication with a penchant for the dramatic, she writes on heartfelt subjects including humanity, love, loss, and depression. Her works are forthcoming in various publications including, The First Line Literary Journal and Shady Grove Literature. Find her on Instagram as @her_abstractions 

Send Us Your Best Work!

Our submissions window is currently open. We are eager to read your poems, fiction, and nonfiction; send us your best work, today.