(Bayero University, Kano Nigeria)

Beneath this veil, my very own fusty corner

A dark place, quiet and eerie.

My escape, I withdraw from prying eyes

I sit in my corner, I despise them from afar,

Their judgmental stare,

I will give them no satisfaction

They shall not gawk upon me and see.

My fear of failing,

My fear of fitting in.

My mumbling words

My cowed gaze

But wait a minute,

Who am I to judge them who judge me?

They, who call me what I am,

And now I blame for allowing me to be what I have become?

I am just like them, an old fashioned them

Our insecurities are one and the same.

It is eating me alive, I have become what I despise

It is time to

Breathe in the light,

Exhale the darkness from your soul

Embrace the liberty of being what you want and who you are

Do not oppress by what you have become.

Be humble and passionate, be fearless

And if you ever go back to that musty corner,

Let it be by choice, let it be my escape,

There is nothing wrong in solitude, but it should never be for fear

Do not be confined or contained or defined by it

You are free to be free.