AYOYIN ILU Na Umar Saleh Gwani Tana kwance bisa gado lullube da bargo mai launin ruwan hoda, ta yi mika, ta yi hamma, tana kallon labulen tagar dakinta tana tunanin ‘kada dai a ce duniyar ta kare ne ina ta sharar barci? Yaya aka yi ko ina shiru haka? Yaya kuma aka yi babu wanda ya ji kururuwa da hargowa da nake ta fama da shi duk cikin yanayin sanyi na wannan wunin? Ta dago busasshen hannunta ta taba goshinta don jin yanayin duminsa da kuma zufa da ke damshi bisa fatarta. “Wai ina Laraba ne, mai aikin da ba a jinta ko ganinta? Yaushe za ta kawo mani shayin magarya don shan magani? Ta dago kanta da ke mata ciwo ta runtse idanu, ta dubi agogo da ke gefen gadonta don ta san wane lokaci ake ciki. Kwatsam, ta daka tsalle kamar wanda aka harbo, “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un,” fadin haka ke da wuya ta dirko tsakar daki sanye da bakaken kayan barci, na leshi, ga adikonta fari, na tawul daure a kanta da kuma hannayenta rike da lalitar magungunanta. Tana rarrafe da sanda kamar damisa mai shirin kai hari.A cikin wannan halin ta fara jin kugi da gurnani daga can cikin cikinta har sai da ya shake jijiyoyin murya da ke fita daga makwogwaronta, wanda yake bushe yana kadawa cikin sauti kamar tsohuwar garaya. Idanuwanta suka gwale cikin azaba kamar za su fado daga mazauninsu. Jikinta ya yi kamar mai ciwon Inna, da ke jiran bukatun Ilu, aljanin da ke tattare da ita. Da bukatun suka iso a wannan karon cikin baitoci, irin na Parisawa,watakila ma baitocin Hafizu ne, saboda Ilu ya san gwanayen iya kafiya. ‘An tambaye ni in ina begen kusancin abin kaunata Na ce, so na tashin gwauron zabo, abin da na mallaka na sauka Lallai Hafizu na da tarin dukiyar kalmomi Amma mummunr kaddara ta dauke masa murya.’ A nan ya bar ni magashiyan, kwance kamar mai fama da bugun aljanu; sai dai ayayoyin da ya bar ni da su. Na sume ina tunanin yaushe Malam zai samo magaryar asali? ILU’S VERSES By Umar Saleh Gwani Staring through the slightly parted curtains of the bedroom window, she sighed on the bed, stretching, yawning, until she’s spread full length in the pink flowered duvet. “Could it be world had ended while I napped? How come everywhere is so quiet? How come nobody heard my screams and struggles all through the cold afternoon?” She brought out a pale hand and gently placed it on her forehead, feeling the temperature and that mild dampness so cold on her skin. Where is Laraba, the transparent house girl? She should have my Magarya herbal tea ready. She raised her aching head slightly and squinted on the clock on the headboard, adjusting her pupils strenuously to read the time, she jumped from the bed as if shot from a gun; ” Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un!” From Him we are; and to Him we shall return. Landing in the middle of the room in her black lace satin nightgown, white towel turban and medicine pouch in hand. She crouched, tiger like on all fours. And that was exactly when the deep growls started right from the bottom pit of her bowels all the way to her chocked throat stringing her parched vocal cords like an old guitar. Her eyes enlarged as if they’ll pop out her face contorted in pain, her body paralyzed, awaiting the next demands from Ilu, her possessor. It did come this time in poetic verses, definitely Persian, probably Hafiz, for Ilu has a way with all the masters. ‘Asked if I long for the embrace of the adored, Said: Desire soars high, low lies what I afford! Hafiz, surely owns- a treasury of words. But, the ills of fate have silenced his chord! And he left me there helpless and lying wasted; except for the Ghazal he left me with. I passed out thinking of when Malam will ever find this true Magarya.
Ayoyin Ilu na Umar Saleh Gwani
