by Edward Batzig

Broken down to my foundations  

I build back up with these walls  

Walls that block my visions  

They echo back to me my calls  

They also block out the sunlight  

But let in the rain  

So I sit in constant night  

Circling the drain  

I don’t wish for these walls to fall  

I’d miss the comfort of their seclusion  

I fear the revealing of my flaws  

exposure to more delusions  

This emotional solitude is self-prescribed 

I imprison my own heart  

I incarcerate my feelings inside 

to ensure they aren’t torn apart  

But I’ve become callus to the pleasure with the pain   

Numb to the deception, ignorant to what’s real 

Without the experience of pain, pleasure isn’t felt the same  

is negativity needed to know how positive feels? 

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ishaq Adekunle is a Writer and photographer who lives in the outskirt of Ibadan, Nigeria.

He is trying to learn about the state of well being and reasoning among the African children and to lend a louder voice.

To this effect, he has learnt to tell their stories in his poetries and photographs which some has appeared on EyeEm photography NYC, New Creatives Horizon, GetlitNaija, and elsewhere. You can contact Ishaq Adekunle on +2348137396919 or reach him on Twitter.

ABOUT THIS PHOTOGRAPH

In picture : Fareedah Usman

Photo Title : “Remains of A Broken Plate”

Location : Orita Challenge, Old Lagos Road, Ibadan.

Date of creation : 27th June, 2020.

“This visual art is themed with Trepidation, Anxiety and Terror the Female Child would grow to face. The fear of sexual abuse, defilement and different negativities they battle while growing and after. The broken steps which the Female child trods upon and their struggle to succeed. The photo depicts the readiness, positivity and self reassuring strength and hope to overcome the challenges. A fight against rape and all sort of abuse.”