Omi Ni Polish
History tells a story about the purity of water.
How it makes clean out of dirt,
And makes whole out of what was once empty.
The beginning and end of everything.
When a child is born,
He is bathed in the cleanest of waters,
Ushered into a new world.
An almost symbolic act,
A rite of passage.
The disconnect from his former abode.
All traces of his mother's womb,
Erased from memory.
Cut from his cord,
Into a life anew.
With every wash,
Every drink, and every meal,
Water takes with it a story.
She has seen every side, and lived to tell every tale.
She was there at creation and will be there at the very end.
In these stories,
It is clear how ungrateful man is.
We often take water for granted.
Pouring parts of her essence away,
Rejecting the gifts she brings,
The sacrifices she makes.
Water is a traveller.
She has witnessed one too many things,
And has lived many lives.
In some, she offered her love and protection.
Guarding us from the evils that we cannot see,
The battles we cannot fight,
Every grain of sand.
In others she is a healer,
Taking on many forms,
Blending into any medium.
Helping out however she can,
Taking no days off.
For if that day should ever come,
Oh, the chaos that will become the world.
"Water... e no get enemy!"
But the enemy also has access to water.
He uses it to clean his guns,
To wash the dirt off his daggers and machetes.
These same weapons,
He uses to destroy the source.
Water, once free, now demands a fee.
Shackled by those she swore to protect.
How easily man forgets.
How the mighty has fallen.
Mighty the hero, turned accomplice.
Her past, washed away.
Abdulrazaq Balogun is a writer and poet whose work explores emotion, memory, and the complexities of human relationships. With a background in History and International Studies and an MSc in International Business Management, his writing blends personal reflection with a broader awareness of culture and society. His poetry is marked by raw honesty, capturing unspoken feelings and everyday experiences in ways that resonate deeply with readers.