3 poems by Umar YB3

From the trenches

They tossed you 
to the depths
and left you to
sink or swim;
though they were
more convinced that
you would end
up a victim.

But they're wrong! 
Look at you!
how you're still 
hearty and hale; 
How you delve 
into the trenches
only to emerge 
like a whale...

With fishes and 
pure pearls
in plentitude 
in your palms, 
Which you now freely 
toss to them—
like beggars 
receiving your alms! 





Slim Chances

Look here at
our sunken faces,
they are an
eloquent mirror,
Look at how
they reflect well 
our state of
lack and terror.

Eaten up by 
several lean years,
we're now all 
bones and skin;
Though they keep 
feeding us hope,
it seems our 
chances are thin! 





Silver Lining

My eyes, curse not 
the clouds that are 
keeping the sun 
from shining;
Stay forever 
fixed, instead, 
on the 
silver lining...

Perhaps those 
early days 
could be 
lived again,
(When we whirled 
and danced
to vertigo 
in the rain)  

As it falls, 
steadily, steadily 
turning yellow ground 
to green, 
Till we can taste 
with relish and
forget how trying
it has been!   

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Umar YB (Umar Yahaya) was born and bred in Kaduna state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is a holder of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from the Federal College of Education, Zaria, and is still a student aspiring for a university degree. Umar speaks Hausa and English languages. He began writing in his early teenage. His works have been published in international anthologies such as the UN GRITO POR LA PAZ anthology for peace; the OPA Anthology of Poetry 2020, STRIVING FOR SURVIVAL and so on. His poems also have appeared in many literary magazines, and he has been recognized by numerous literary platforms. He is the author of a poetry book entitled, PEARLS IN SHELL.

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