Azaan’s Water

by Oladunni Bejide

I chatter like steel beams under pressure.
The rain cuts through my clothes,
my smile leaves all 32 teeth exposed.
I search for the bus, swaying from left to right

It slows, coming to a stop in front of me.
The pale driver looks me in the eyes.
His stare like cool acid, slowly melts my smile.

Looking into his eyes, I shiver.
The driver glares down his nose.
And turns back to the wheel.

I step towards the bus
But it drives past.
Just like it did the day before and the day before that.
The rains’ cold seeps through my clothes
and skin, a reaction to my bad luck.

But the iciness becomes unbearable
spreading everywhere.
I can feel it in my head
It’s fighting to come up and out
until I can’t hold it in anymore.

I scream.
The whole street collectively gasps
and strain their eyes, trying
to see who would cause such a disruption
in the dark of the morning.

I turn to walk back home, ignoring the stares,
pace slow and all 32 teeth protected.

Oladunni Bejide was born in Rhode Island. She is 14 years old. She moved to Nigeria when she was around nine years old and later moved to Pittsburgh, where she attends Pittsburgh CAPA in the literary program. Oladunni plays several sports, writes in many genres, and volunteers at Carnegie Public Library. Oladunni believes in all kinds of equality for all kinds of people. She openly discusses and shares her beliefs and ideas at any given opportunity.

City of Asylum believes that All Pittsburghers are Poets. With the Poem of the Week series, we seek to increase the readership and appreciation of poetry locally by publishing poems written by residents of Allegheny County of all ages and levels of experience. In partnership with the Poetry Editors at Sampsonia Way Magazine, City of Asylum advances our mission to defend, celebrate, and build on creative freedom of expression. This project received a RADical ImPAct Grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).