These three poems by Tijjani Muhammad Musa were especially chosen for The Bala Selection.
The Bala Selection is a bi-weekly poetry feature curated by Ismail Bala for Konya Shamsrumi, showcasing distinctive new voices and resonant works from across Africa and beyond. Through his discerning eye, each selection highlights the craft, music, and emotional clarity that define contemporary poetry in its most luminous form.
Ismail Bala is a poet, translator, and critic whose work bridges classical poetics and modern sensibility, and whose mentorship has shaped a generation of emerging African poets.
A Light Walk In Darkness
When Dayi goes to sleep
in embrace of the night.
And Darki envelopes all
including artificial lights.
Seen by eyes when shut
letting clouds dream walk
all over mind's spying eyes.
When speakers retire
and snickers crawl out.
Reactin', rejectin', refusin'
hideouts for freedom burst.
Who dares stop mad floods
of unseens, in festive mood
as our sun's stares hide away?
When fantasies turn real
expect a pendulum swing
To-fro tranquility to calamity
Serinity to absurdity, in flares.
In their bear of beers, my fear
shrouds valor, courage of age.
Only fools will down their tools.
When you see nudity smile
and lust lost, questing a feed.
Decency, chastity unperturbed
lights, left-eye shouts "Action!"
Know, a slow, stow show is on.
Dims for orgies, spots for porn
Your invoice, rejoice via choice.
Then it dawns on dawn to return
saying Enough of this naked pun
Everybody, your humanity put on
Man! Feed not on carrion for fun.
Though for some, it's of rebellion
to make this their sole dominion
As each returns, soon to gory on.
©️2025 Tijjani M. M.
Furnace of Desire
The year has rolled by
November is here again.
Last time it knocked, cold
came with so much pain.
Not for me, but for her
And did she complain?
Tried much to comfort her
But whimped she, again and again.
So, ask me what did I do?
Burn a fire to keep us warm.
Wasn't good enough, as degree
Celsius plummeted to confirm.
Blanket covers, soft music
Added to poetic serenades.
Still toss and turned till dawn
With no sunrise, snow fills spades.
So next night, stripped us naked
Before the furnace, held us close
Burning passion, subdued a desire
Soon fast asleep, from a love filled dose
By morning, woke we to birdy chirps
Yawny stretches, accompanying smiles
Sunrise with a shine, so warmly infectious
It affects many for thousands of miles.
(c)2025 Tijjani M. M.
Conscience Pricks
A room with four corners
A square with eight angles
Bodies occupying all the ends
Mind being culprit that blends
Meanness, soundness, complex
Oh, let's forget not forgiveness
Queller of all touch of madness
Housing them dual personalities
One called your true conscience
The other, an evil named Qareen.
First, pricks, disturbs, disrupts
Second, surfing whispered rays
In measured ripples and waves
Talking happily in quivery notes
A farmer, sowing sedition knots.
At harvest season, goods of evil
In tons of refuse, rejects of Devil
Merchants of dilemma in dilemma
Blind of deeds until the sun rises west
By which, it's too far out to flip, to return.
(c)2025 Tijjani M. M.
About Tijjani Muhammad Musa
TIJJANI, Muhammad Musa is an award-winning bilingual (English & Hausa) poet and writer. He is a member of many international poetry fora, most especially on social media. A published author of two poetry anthologies, one titled – The First Cup, and the other an innovative, first of its kind Hausa Haiku poetry book titled – Sunayen Allah 99, with translation of each of the 99 Haiku into English. He is also a broadcast journalist, advertiser, motivational speaker, and duly qualified architect.
Popularly known as Poetic Tee with the slogan “Here, take a sip,” Teejay was once ANA Kano State Branch Chairman. His educational qualifications include an M.Sc. in Mass Communication, with a first M.Sc. in Architecture. He lives in Kano and is married with children.
