It was a cold harmattan day in 1998
A teenage boy had graduated primary school with honour and flair
Exuding nothing but innocence and exuberance
Oblivious to the peril of life ahead
Secondary school was the next milestone in his academic pursuit
Excitement and a carefree life he envisioned
But then came that cold harmattan day in 1998
Ferried to boarding school on this day, with glee he went
Never dawned on him he was all left to fend for himself
Till he saw the taillights of his father's car as he walked up the stairs
To the dormitory room he was led.
When night fell, laying on his bed he wept, missing his mama's care and the dishes she prepared,
It was a long night he barely slept,
Because the weather got colder on that harmattan day in 1998...
• The Harmattan is a season in West Africa, characterized by cold temperature.
About the Creator
Jibrin Umar
I am a passionate writer of poetry and short stories, driven by a love for languages and literature. I am fascinated by the power of literature to evoke emotions and paint vivid images in the reader's mind.
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