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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Today Is Not the Day We Die</h2>



<pre class="wp-block-verse">Bruised, battered, bloodied 
Sweaty, salty, smelly 
Still we stand and fight 
For today is not the day we die. 
A vast army comes at us wave after wave 
Behind us is the sea 
Filled with the roasted bones of our vessels 
Burnt by us 
For retreat is not an option. 
Feint, 
Dodge 
Parry, 
Slash, 
Thrust 
And I pulled the sword from his belly. 
His intestines ran out like children freed after school hours. 
The sword feels heavy 
My hand feels weak 
My sword is lighter 
But it is broken and buried in the skull of a giant. 
His name must be Goliath 
Won't it be a cliché if I say mine is David. 
Parry, parry, dodge and swing, 
His head ran from his body 
Drenching me in a fountain of blood. 
 
Today is not the day we die, 
For I’m still a newly-wed of 1year 1 month 
Must once more grind my loin against my wife’s behind, 
Grab a handful of her upper body strength 
Touching and swallowing the summits 
And then make an insertion on the centerspread. 
Sounds crazy thinking of sex on a battle field 
Crazier that I have a hard on. 
Maybe sex and death are related, 
For some face it afraid. 
 
Today is not the day we die 
Bruised, battered, bloodied 
Sweaty, salty, smelly 
Swinging, slashing, stabbing, 
Death will come 
When it will come 
But it shall meet me standing 
Probably with a hard on. 
When it will come 
I know not 
But today is not the day I die.</pre>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alone In the Crowd</h2>



<pre class="wp-block-verse">Alone in the crowd 
Too much noise in this silence 
Broken by the voices in my head 
Can't turn on the radio 
No more music to make love to my mind 
Just sounds that rape my ears 
So my brain has migraine 
Same words 
Different beats 
No words 
Same beats 
The sounds took sense out of nonsense 
Cos money, women, booze and cars 
Are all what you need to sing a song 
 
Alone in the crowd 
All noise, no sound 
Voices in my head 
And my mouth feels like lead 
Can't turn on the radio 
No music 
Just swear words 
And fanciful names for women 
They sing lessons on how you spend money you don't have 
On booze you can't drink 
On cars you don't own 
With women who probably don’t know you 
I would rather a wolf howling 
Than this noise 
No lyrics 
No voice 
No sense 
Just beats 
And more beats 
Feels like a beat down 
Yet we smile and dance away like clowns. 
 
Alone in the crowd 
And no words to write to calm the feeling 
Can't turn on the TV 
No more music channels to watch 
Just sex scenes 
Smoke 
speakers 
and plenty of noise. 
Over dressed women 
clad only in bikinis, 
The guys are naked under their blazers, shirts and trousers. 
The women always struggling with their big backside 
Too big to fit into one jeans 
So they shake it to reduce it 
And their pair in front are well hidden behind nothing 
Or maybe something 
Something that is not worth calling a bra 
Well, if you don’t see the summit 
You did not see anything, right? 
The guys puff and pour what they wish they bought 
And nod their heads to what they wish they understood. 
 
Alone in the crowd 
Feels like a feeling 
Guess it is a feeling 
Fleeting feeling 
Got me shivering 
A bottle or two makes it worse 
Doctor said it's stress, 
Advised I rest more 
But the nights are too short 
One blink 
and it's dawn 
I've enough words to describe it 
But the words are not mine. 
 
Alone in the crowd 
And I wonder what it is worth 
Did not ask for this vision 
Maybe it's just a dream 
Sleep don't come soon enough 
So I stay awake in the dream 
I wish to let friends understand 
But they are too quick to motivate 
Can't feel sorry 
Cos I'm not sorry 
Hate to pity 
I would rather get it on merit 
And give you the credit 
Even if it might not recharge 
I don't hate the feeling 
Just wish it could knock me out. 
 
Alone in the crowd 
But crowded in my head 
Wish I was as strong as I looked 
Or feel as good as I wish 
But some choices are actually the only option 
Too tired to complain 
Who cares anyway? 
They probably not sure if I'm still sane 
Cos I'm not too 
I can't say what they want to hear 
Or do as told 
I'm no rebel 
Just have no reason to conform 
 
Alone in the crowd 
Just me 
Walking with friends 
Talking with family 
But, 
Just me 
Alone 
Just me 
Alone 
You can't understand 
I don't too 
Hope it never makes meaning 
That would mean 
an escape 
Freedom 
New beginning 
From an end untimely. 
 
Alone in the crowd 
Not sure anymore 
Feel the comfort within 
Warmth all over 
Still not totally okay. 
But, 
The Comforter is doing a great job. 
Alone in the crowd? 
Not anymore. 
At least, 
No more crowd 
Just me and the Comforter 
One, but many. </pre>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Executioner</h2>



<pre class="wp-block-verse">Execute, 
execution, 
executing. 
I am in a hurry. 
I can't wait. 
24 hours is so much, 
yet it goes too soon. 
Thus, there is never enough time. 
Worse still, 
time will take all the time she needs till the time is right. 
Shame, 
she is usually always right. 
I bleed tears, 
sweat blood 
and cry sweat. 
But every process takes time, 
else we all would give birth like rats. 
They say, 
time is money. 
yet I can't over spend the daily limit, 
can only apportion amount spent per activity. 
I wanna be an executioner, 
kill time? 
spend time? 
Smashing my wall clock did not stop my alarm clock from ringing. 
I know time will tell, 
but I hope if there be a regret whatsoever, 
let it be for what I did 
and not for what I wish I did.</pre>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Can I Take a Dip?</h2>



<pre class="wp-block-verse">Can I take a dip...in the deep end? 
Swim around, in and out, 
fishing for nothing or, 
maybe something words can't describe. 
Butterfly stroke? 
Or harder and faster? 
 
Can I take a dip....in the deep end? 
Like Captain America, I can do this all day. 
It's no hard work, there is no hard and fast rule to it. 
I can teach as well as learn on the job. 
Just guide, I will follow. 
 
Can I take a dip...in the deep end? 
I'm not afraid of drowning, 
even if it sounds like I'm gasping for breath at some point. 
I won't jump in, it can't take all of me. 
 So I will have to be gentle, and with ease. 
 
Can I take a dip...in the deep end? 
There no room for a life guard, three would be a crowd. 
I always believe in slow and steady. 
But I'm also a fan of fast and furious. 
 
Can I take a dip....in the deep end? 
Swimming is always fascinating and interesting. 
I particularly enjoy the backstroke and breaststroke. 
This session will be a masterstroke. 
 
Can I take a dip...in the deep end? 
I'm no Batman, 
so there won't be a Bruised Wayne. 
For this session, I will go deep like Aquaman. 
 
Can I take a dip...in the deep end? 
</pre>



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<p class="has-text-align-right"><em><strong>Olumide Holloway</strong>, popularly known as <strong>King Olulu</strong>, is a multifaceted creative force. As a <strong>Poetprenuer</strong>, he seamlessly blends poetry and entrepreneurship. His gift for storytelling shines through his captivating spoken word performances. Olumide is the visionary behind the acclaimed <strong>WORD UP Poetry Concert</strong> and the electrifying <strong>War Of Words slam poetry competition</strong>. Since <strong>February 2012</strong>, his events and platforms have been instrumental in discovering and nurturing <strong>spoken word talents</strong> within Nigeria and beyond. Beyond artistic expression, Olumide is committed to empowering individuals—building their mental, emotional, and financial resilience. His impactful work leverages <strong>Spoken Word Poetry</strong> as a potent tool for communication and social change. Olumide’s literary contributions extend to several thought-provoking books, including The Poetprenuer, Strategic Business Lessons from the Animal Kingdom, The Way of the Lion, Smoking Guns, and Bleeding Streets. These works are available on <strong>Amazon/Kindle</strong> and <strong>Selar.co</strong>.</em></p>



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TODAY IS NOT THE DAY WE DIE ‘ / ‘ALONE IN THE CROWD’ / ‘THE EXECUTIONER ‘ / ‘CAN I TAKE A DIP? ‘ | four poems by Olumide Holloway (King Olulu)
Photo by Raphael Brasileiro | pexels.com/