Not hunger; no; not the ache of the poor
But pride in a dress; and the thirst for more
Not empty pots; not broken bread
But sweet; slick words that turned their heads

Kiise because of empty plates
Cos' she had gardens; she had gates
She's no street girl, no, she ain't born for coins
Yet she danced where fire and shame conjoins

"Oju loro wa; inu l’oro ku;"
The face may smile; but the heart hides rue

Ẹnu dídùn, ẹrin amúlùmálà,
A sugared tongue can sell banana,
She called him “Brother”
“Alasiri mi"; “My person,” “He’s just too nice"
But behind every “bestie” she swore was harmless...
Lurked a shadow with a price.

He warned; "stay away from that male friend; that whispering breeze"
But she mocked his worry; and called it disease
"You're insecure;" she laughed; with pride
Till tears found rivers she could not hide

Besties and backbones; they called them sweet
While secrets bloomed beneath their feet
He kissed her mind before her lips
And stole her soul with honeyed scripts

"Shey you no trust me ni?” she'd say to her man; “oh, you’re insecure.”
But trust was a window she left open; until shame walked in the door.

Not every smile is holy ground
Not every shoulder is safe or sound
"Confidant" today; but digger tomorrow
Building castles of regret and sorrow

The trap was not sudden; the trap was slow
A garden of laughter; hiding woe
She played with fire; called it light
Until darkness swallowed her sight

For every video the world has seen
A thousand more live in between
Secrets tucked in perfect gowns
Sins that never make a sound

Ṣọ ra, arábìnrin, guard your flame,
Not every candle bears your name.
Ẹnu dídùn le fà èṣù wá
A honeyed tongue can sell your star
The tongue that flatters can also slay
And wolves wear suits in clear broad day

In the end; Dear sister...
The devil does not always come with horns
Sometimes he comes as comfort...
As kindness, well-dressed and sworn.

Let’s not confuse attention with affection
Or presence with protection
Let’s remember....
Some men befriend your soul, only to auction your reflection.

So guard your gates
Love who loves you, even in truth’s raw form
Lest you join the growing silence
Of those who fell, and now mourn

"Que Sera Sera;” one of the lies that’s been passed down in ages
A sweet lullaby for the lazy
a lullaby that kills the will
We’re told; “Whatever will be; will be;”
but forget that what will be needs 'Will' to be

Destiny isn’t a scripted play; it’s a field
And man was gifted a tool; the name is "will"
Yet we sit; fold arms; and call it fate
as if the Most High created us to spectate

Not every dream dies because it wasn’t meant to be
Some die because someone refused to will it into being

“Que Sera Sera”; A lullaby laced in the lines of sages
but sweet on the tongue of passive cages
It's a chant for the chilled; not the chosen
a phrase for the frozen; who wait for fate with doors wide open
but never knock; never move; just hoping

“Whatever will be; will be”
sounds deep; but it ain't that deep
It’s how dreams go to sleep
It's how kings lose their crown
and blame the throne for sitting down

See; destiny ain’t a straight-line draft
It curves; it bends; it waits for craft
You were born with a map and a machete
Will you walk; or will you wait already?

Not every “meant to be” will see the light
Some stay in the dark 'cos you refuse to fight
Some die not from fate but neglect
buried in the soil of "what did you expect?"

So nah
Don’t sell your will for a whisper
Don’t call surrender scripture
Don’t paint apathy in gold and call it faith
God gave you breath; not brakes

“Que fit no sera sera”
what should be; might not ever be
if you let life happen passively
If you leave purpose to probability
you’ll forfeit your possibility

Because destiny without action? Is distraction
A poetic excuse for inaction
A fiction of fraction

So stand
Stand where the cowards sat
Dare where the doubters lacked
"Will" what must be;
’cos what must be might just flee
if you don’t become what you’re meant to be

Is it wrong
To run...
Toes off the floor
When your heel’s burning up from the weight you wore?

Is it weak
To weep...
When the silence screams more
Than the chaos you’ve begged your soul to ignore?

Is it fair
To care...
When no one sees you
But they drink from your light till there's none left to view?

Is it sane
To strain...
When you're stuck in the loop
Of giving your all to a world that just hoops?

Is it dumb
To numb...
To fake every laugh...
When your chest splits in two and you just want to crash?

Is it right
To fight...
With no one in sight...
Just your thoughts with knives under midnight light?

Is it love
To stay...
When your heart’s in decay...
And they left but still haunt you in every way?

Is it strength
To bend...
Without ever a mend...
Still smiling while knowing you’ve reached your end?

Is it cruel
To feel...
And still be unheard...
Like you’re screaming in ink but they ghost every word?

Is it peace
To sleep...
Or just a disguise...
When you’d rather not wake than relive your goodbyes?

Is it pride
To hide...
All the pain you confide...
Behind "I’m fine" while you're breaking inside?

Is it just
To trust...
When betrayal’s a trend...
And the people you loved pushed you out in the end?

Is it sin
To grin...
When your world caves in...
Just to keep up the face while you’re drowning within?

Is it strange
To change...
When the past feels cursed...
And you’d rather be numb than to feel what hurts?

Is it brave
To cave...
To not be okay...
To admit that the strong don’t always want to stay?

Is it life
To survive...
Yet feel so dead...
A shell in the crowd with a war in your head?

Wake up; there's no warmth in the morning
Wake up; just the cold on my skin
No love; just the echoes of the silence
No hand ever reaching within

Wake up; is there anyone who's listening?
Wake up; I’ve been crying without sound
Oh love; I have begged beneath the ruins
Still no soul is ever around

Alone; alone... no one’s coming
Alone; alone... just the rain
Alone; alone.... can you hear it?
The sound of a world gone vain.

Wake up; see the riches getting richer
Wake up; while we’re sleeping in pain
No love; just the stares of empty people
Who pass by again and again

Wake up; see the silence in the alleys
Wake up; there's a riot in the valleys
Oh love; all the hope is now hollow
We beg; they feast; we starve and follow

Wake up; every window shows a banquet
Wake up; but my table stays bare
Oh love; they don't notice we're still hungry
Just pity in the way that they stare

Wake up; where's the fire for the freezing?
Wake up; where's the bread for the pleading?
No love; just the chains and the taxes
We're ghosts in gold-plated palaces

Wake up; I've been shouting from the alleys
Wake up; but my voice is too weak
No love; when you’re poor and always broken
You’re too tired to even speak

Wake up; does the system ever shiver?
Wake up; while we drown in the river
Oh love; they pretend they never knew us
With lies they lace; then blame and sue us

Wake up; there’s a child beneath the lamplight
Wake up; he's got tears in his eyes
Oh love; he was born into the struggle
And taught early how to survive

Wake up; little boy; keep your distance
Wake up; they despise your existence
No love; just a knife in the lecture
Grow old fast; but learn to play lesser

Wake up; see the men who hold the power
Wake up; they don’t bleed like we do
No love; when your pain is just statistics
And your home is a cold avenue

Wake up; see the rich in their towers
Wake up; they consume; we count hours
Oh love; when you cry; they call it drama
But we bleed truth beneath the trauma

Wake up; there's no hope in the system
Wake up; it was rigged from the start
Oh love; all they gave me was a warning
And a crack right through my heart

Wake up; it’s too late for redemption
Wake up; still I whisper this prayer
No love; but I walk with all the lonely
And I hold them in the air

Wake up; all the streets are still burning
Wake up; but the world keeps turning
Oh love; if you feel like you’re drowning
Just know; you’re not alone in frowning

Wake up; I’m a voice that’s been hidden
Wake up; from a world cold and ridden
No love; but I still sing for the fallen
For the ones who rise when they’re crawling

Wake up; they designed us for the aching
Wake up; every smile could be faking
Oh love; if your soul feels forsaken
You're not weak; just too often shaken

Alone; alone... no dawn is breaking
Alone; alone... just the night
Alone; alone... are you still waiting?
Or have you drowned without a fight?

The crescent rose; the night stood still
A whispered joy; a sacred thrill
Though hunger knocked and pockets sighed
Still we prayed; still we tried

Eid has come; the air is bright
A morning bathed in golden light
Children race with laughter free
In clothes that dance like poetry

The markets roared; the butchers grinned
The scent of spice and meat within
Some feast with plenty; some with few
Yet hearts are full where faith is true

Oh Allah; let this joy remain
Let ease be poured where once was pain
Let every home find peace to stay
And hunger fade; be swept away

For though this Ramadan was long
With trials deep and burdens strong
We stand today; still standing tall
For You O Lord; have blessed us all

So grant us wealth not just in gold
But in a heart that’s pure and bold
Let love increase; let tempers cease
Let every soul find lasting peace

And if today some tears still fall
If struggle knocks on any door
Then by Your grace; O Most Divine
Let better days be close behind

Eid Mubarak; near and far
No matter how tough the seasons are
For faith endures; for dawn still breaks
And in our hearts; hope never shakes

Twice the peace; twice the grace...    Sound mind; steady pace
All the heights; I’m meant to chase... Man; I deserve it all.

Fewer foes; sharpest plans...  Golden stocks and bigger brands
Built it up with my own hands...  Yea; I deserve it all.

Shining stones; my wrist aglow...  Seats reclined; the engines roar
Waves that kiss my private shore...  I deserve it all.

Respect my name; let praises ring... Islands where the palm trees swing
Every blessing wealth can bring... I deserve it all.

For the my sister who left too soon... Gone before she met her bloom
Every loss; I turn to fuel... yea, I deserve it all.

World leaders speak my name with pride... Crowds that echo far and wide
More than riches; soul untied... I deserve it all.

More power; more freedom... Every ounce of what I’m dreaming
Every door that fate has opened; man; I deserve it all.

Pure in heart when doubt was strong... Held my ground when nights were long
Tempted; yet I stayed headstrong... So, I deserve it all.

6 AM; I’m up to run; Train my lungs... embrace the sun
Outwork fate ‘til battles won... See, I deserve it all.

See people first as flesh and soul... despite the words the world has sold
Still; I gave them love untold... So; I deserve it all.

Silent moves; I mind my lane... Penning poetry; shaping change
Guiding youth through trials and pain... yea, I deserve it all.

For the prayers made in spite... For ancestors who gave their might
For my bloodline shining bright; Aye; I deserve it all.

For my mother’s gentle heart... She deserves a brand-new start
Karma’s touch; no bitter scars... oh, she deserves it all.

For my brother’s boundless dreams... For my cousin to reign supreme
Taking steps beyond my reach...  Cos' They deserve it all.

God who whispers when I kneel... Tells me what is truly real
Speaks in echoes; I can feel;  Lord, "You deserve it all."

Keep the fakes far out my space... Keep my blessings in their place
Keep my essence laced with grace... I deserve it all.

If they hate; let them speak... Truth withstands the foul critique
Legends last beyond the weak... I deserve it all.

Burn it down or build it high... Test my faith; I still won’t die
I’m the greatest; don’t ask why.... Cos I deserve it more.

Teach me how to love; I'm lost in the motion
Tossed in the ocean; frost-bit devotion
Heart’s been a vault; locked with corrosion
Now I’m just numb; lost the emotion

Teach me the way; 'cause I stray from the meaning
Played with the demons; bathed in the bleeding
Love was a game; now it’s pain that I’m feeding
Shadows embrace every face that I’m seeing

Teach me the touch that don’t crumble to nothing
Trust isn’t rushing; lust isn’t loving
Tired of running; my soul is combusting
Built out of scars and the weight of destruction

Teach me to give; not just take till it’s hollow
Swallowed my sorrow; prayed for tomorrow
Chased every thrill till the feeling was borrowed
Left in the ruins of hearts that I’ve sorrowed

Teach me to heal; let me breathe through the fractures
Love ain't a play; ain't a scene full of actors
Trust ain't a chain; or a dream full of captures
Faith ain't a game; ain't a scheme for the trappers

Teach me to fight when the light starts to flicker
When love isn't quick; when the nights turn bitter
Not to let go when the weight gets thicker
Not to let pride make the ties grow thinner

Teach me to love; not just speak it in riddles
Not just the start but the depth and the middle
Not just the heat when the passion is little
But when it’s cold and the silence can whittle

Teach me to love; make it raw; make it real
Show me the way; let my soul start to feel
Break every chain; let these wounds start to heal
Teach me to love; let me know that it’s real