Woman Poem by Muhammad Awwal Saidu

Fire! ! !
When tame
It is beautiful, graceful
Gives you energy.
Source of happiness
Joy and Jolly
Warmth and strength
Does your “do’s”
And doesn’t your “don’t's”
Can melt steel
With its flowing flame

But when wild
‘tis fiercer than a wounded lioness
Dangerous than a king cobra
Grips you like a vice
Shocks you more than high voltage
Cuts you easily
As a hot knife through cheese
Destroys you and your defences
Tortures you that you wish death.
It can only be conquered
By an ocean of patience.


(Nigeria, September,1987)