I heard them say
that pride could be fuel for honor or ruin right now,
but I said that first.
I heard them say,
“Yeah? And what do you hear us say?
It has been ruining me for far too long.”
Pride could be fuel for honor or ruin.
Forgive me if I’m on my terms,
but I pray it does not ruin me.
I hear you agree with me now
that pride could be fuel for honor or ruin,
well, I’m surprised.
Iyanuoluwa Okunola is a Nigerian poet whose poems are layered with meaning, drawn from experience but aimed at something bigger — using simple language to say powerful things.