#005: Revived

. . . and all it took me was to bend and pick my cap

A death that could have killed one, if it only blows away one’s cap, then one should get the drum and get dancing.

August/September 2021

I launched this Newsletter in August 2021. By September, I have already released four (4) publications. But two years later, I am making this post, the 5th publication.

What happened?

The events that occurred made me understand better the wisdom behind “You don't keep malice against someone you've not seen or heard from.”

July and August 2021 had me getting meds from pharmacies. But September told me it was time to take things serious. My body couldn't take it no more. I found myself drifting away into ill-health.

I obtained a card at the State hospital, underwent tests and scans. By the second week, I was diagnosed. A scary one. So, I got meds. I was feeling better. But in October, I returned to the hospital as symptoms came back. Another series of tests and scans. Got meds, and this time, it felt on-point. I was good all through the rest of year.

I was able to return to my mentees at “The Rite” poetry workshop. I delivered. Completed all lesson and gave them graduation project. However, I couldn't assess the few who submitted nor issue Certificates to them because February 2022 came with more discomfort.

Good news: two of my mentees got their chapbooks published traditionally, and digital.

My silence in the poetry landscape was already deafening and disturbing. I couldn't write new poems nor make submission of even old works. The focus was on “wellness.” And this tweet came to mind:

I got a backdoor access to a Federal Medical Centre’s surgeon. I got to his Office by 7am, and didn't meet him until 1am. He has been in the Theatre.

I met him at the theatre entrance. He was preparing for another. I told him my medical history. “I guess you've been getting wrong diagnosis. You've done enough scans, but try one more and meet me tomorrow.”

I visited the radiologist he recommended the following day. I took the result to him. He was dressed in the theatre gown, and was removing gloves. He washed his hands, dried it and glanced through the result.

“Man, you’ve got some healthy organs. I guess you only need some rest at work, and take more fruits,” He said. The radiologist had said similar thing: “Eat fruits as food, not as appetizers or desserts.”

“I've been doing these. Na why you all have been saying my organs are perfect,” I thought to myself. The doctor waved me bye, and put on another gloves. “Omoh! Another surgery!” I murmured. “We should be grateful that we ain't spending the money we do not have over illness.”

My Principal in Chambers thought the doctor, his friend, treated my matter with a wave of hand. He contacted a doctor at Babcock Teaching Hospital. But Baba don jappa 😀. So I retired to the meds recommended by Chemists.

One evening in July 2022, I rushed myself to the hospital. I was feeling cold and hot at the same time. It felt like something is boiling my blood, and would soon dry it up.

I got to the road, mounted a bike but alighted immediately. I knew I may not survive the next minutes on the bike if I continue the journey, because my body shivered at the breeze the bike generated as it moved an inch. I walked as fast as I could to a nearby hospital.

It happened they are specialists in what was my real ailment. I conducted X-ray in there clinic and was given meds. Friends, the relief was massive.

August/September 2022

I woke up one morning of July 2022 and knew I have got the right diagnose. That I was giving my predicament the right meds.

I felt immediately that wind of death has been driven away from the door of my soul. But it didn't leave without blowing off my cap. And all it took me was to bend and pick my cap. I needed no drum, but I was dancing.

It takes a seconds to recover. Reviving is what takes longer. It is a part of recovery therapy that one should engage in what he enjoys doing. I love talking. I enjoy imparting knowledge.

Throughout the sickening period, I was restricted to Abeokuta. I could only attend events within Abeokuta. And I attended the Ogun Digital Summit in July 2022.

August 2022 started with me speaking at a virtual event called Teens Workshop: Faith Exploit, organized by Ma'rif Institute, Canada. Then a friend’s Nikkah at Oloosa Oko, Oyo State; which was my first unofficial outing outside Abeokuta.

Then came my visit to Badagry to see Arikẹ, where she lived. We had met in June, virtually. So that was our first physical meeting. Our meeting point was Sultan Beach. I stayed at El-hadj Nasir Kareem's place, my friend and brother. We met again the second day.

From there, I left for KWABAFEST, Kwara State. I was a panelist at the 3-day long event.

I stayed at Aladodo's house throughout, alongside Tawfeeqah who came in from Ibadan and was also a Panelist.

I came back to Abeokuta, and in September I was a speaker at TIMSAN Lagos Camp & Conference. I spoke on “Law and Digital Space.” Find snippets here.

I broke my silence in the literary space with the publication of my haibun chapbook: Dust & Rust.

With DUST and RUST, a history was made: while a few books of haiku & senryū have been published by Africans, including mine– Across the Full Moon published by Mamba African Press, DUST & RUST is the first book of haibun to have come out of Africa. Many thanks to Buttonhook Press, California.

I had also judged a haibun competition, alongside Jennifer Hambrick, which result was published in July alongside our commentaries. It was the “2022 San Francisco International Haibun Contest”, sponsored by the "Haiku Poets of Northern California."

I had a few journal publications in 2022, about 5 of them. And they were old works I decided to submit. It was a No muse period for me. No much ginger. Focus was on wellness, unlike the previous back-to-back submission spree.

Also, we (Aladodo and I) couldn't hold the Amrayn Press’s Ramadan Poetry series, our annual practice since 2017. It was partly due to my health staccato. I also stopped Writers Connect’s projects: “The QuillS,” a journal, and “Quillebration,” our annual literary hangout.

In November, I went to Akure, Ondo State, for the burial of my Principal's father, who was also a lawyer. I spent a week there, in a fine comfy hotel. The chill and relaxation highly contributed to my ultimate revival. And it was at one of the burial programs– the court session, that I took the top-notch shot below. It finally made it to all my media’s Profile pics. I love the stern look 😉. Le’ju pa. Kalla. Ma rẹrin. 😁

I often followed posting of the pics with this declaratory line from the poem of Timi Sanni: “My body, an orb, a moon. Glory to the sun that fills me with light. All I do now is beam.”

In December, I attended a friend’s wedding in Ikorodu, Lagos. And I visited Arike again. It was a reconciliatory meeting. When two persons meet anew, little things are bound to cause misunderstanding. It was the toughest tussle than my previous relationships. But unlike them, we reconciled.

The following week at her work, she was showing me a gift from her Office. But I knew she actually wanted to flaunt the reconciliatory/proposal ring 😁😉

I had developed interest in Cybersecurity and related Tech topics, especially as it relates to Legal & Regulatory Compliance. I started learning in June 2022 through workshops, courses and seminars.

And I wrote some articles, one of which came Top 10 in the Hackernoon International Cybersecurity Contest. In January 2023, I got two CyberSec certificates. This newfound passion took me into Technical Writing, and it has been awesome. I no wan explain tire, evidence dey here.

Sometimes in February, the symptoms showed up again. I visited the specialist hospital and got meds. Tired of meds, I looked for a spa. I found “Rexurection Fitness Clinic,” and went through Osteopathic therapy. Hot therapies and several aerobic sessions. I mean, it was both tender and tough manipulation of my spine and muscles. And I've never had to take meds since then. No more pain. Revived.

Gladly, Aladodo and I held the Ramadan Poetry series this time. It fell in March 2023. We featured Timi Sanni again, like we did in the 2021 edition. I delivered two Ramadan public lectures for JAMNAS, at their Ogun and Lagos branches respectively.

The Eid-el-Fitri was in April. Arikẹ and I met again at the EidFest Lagos 2023. We also attended Misturah & Abdul Qudus Nikah in June.

August/September 2023

In July, I started thinking about my abandoned projects. I thought, since I am revived, I can start reviving them too. One at a time. And I thought of this Newsletter: Aditu. There and then, I started drafting this post, one word at a time.

August had me speaking at a Hijrah program. It was to commemorate the Islamic New Year.

On the second day of September 2023, Arike and I got married. Yes! I tied the nuptial cord. With someone I can share as much love and affection as I want.

Unlike the popular 5&6 gizmo, I and Arikẹ are 8&9. And Allah gave everything their numbers. It goes beyond counting, brethren. So, I wrote a haibun titled “Kokuhaku”, about my love life, and a window into my life at large. Find it below:

Therefore now, what next?

Two years later, Aditu returns. Aditu is back. Aditu is here. I, the Aditu warlock, am back from the two-year long hiatus.

Watch out for my next newsletter. Till then, let me know what you think about this new lease for Aditu. Leave some comments and feedback for me. And yes, it could just be some Congratulations and good wishes.

Thanks for reading this far.

Cheers 🥂