Twenty-three Stars

Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo, Nigeria

I tasted freedom today. It was in the thud of the soles of my feet planted solidly on warmth of earth. It was in the softness of my breath as I exhaled and breathed my soul among the stars, as I inscribed my name on atmosphere. It was in the strength of my wings as they stretched beyond unseen walls, and flapped, gliding high, taking over the blueness of the skies, unafraid of the depth that lay beneath my floating feet, the vast blackness underneath the blue fullness of the star filled horizon into which I rose

I tasted freedom today. It was in the breathlessness of my own smile. The high pitch of my voice as it echoed through the streets as I gave sound to the songs of my soul. Rhythm to the beat of my heart. It was in the dance of my anklets as I ran across the rosebushes, unafraid of the thorns, as I crossed the borders into places unknown, unperturbed by the stories untold that lay ahead, embracing the mystery of adventure, boldness surging through my veins.

I tasted freedom today. It was in the brightness that engulfed me as I stepped out of mama's nest, away from what I have known as home. It was in the current of energy that zapped through me as I stretched my wings, in the roar of my soul as I embraced the strength in me, and at long last, flew. In the magnificence of the skies as they embraced me, welcoming me into the space within them that has been carved out for me, mapped out by a constellation of twenty-three stars, the space where I truly belonged.

Toluwalogo is a 23-year-old medical student and writer. She spends most of her free time reading books and writing mostly poetry. Some of her works have appeared in The Medizoe magazine, The Penacle website, The Xylom, and on her blog (brokenbeautifulll.wordpress.com). When she is not busy with school work or writing poetry, she will likely be found making music with her guitar or watching a movie.