Metamorphosis by Salim Yakubu Akko

A large tree in the middle of green woodland. Large white text reads: Metamorphosis. Smaller text reads: Discussing disabled characters in fairy tales and folklore.

when we were children,
there was a man we used to climb,
with a labyrinth of thoughts,
that we would touch the sky.
and, whenever we climb,
he would promise taking us
to another world—with birds,
with trees; a kind where
antelopes play a chase
game with bats. and another
day he would stand
near our room, singing the
alphabets of our names;
with smiles, with delight, & in
chorus, we would answer
and climb, again. a day, week
and a month passed, still
waiting  for the return of his
soft whispers, but he didn't
come, again. got tired and asked,
“where is the man we used
to climb?” and mother said,
“you have sent him to become
the moon; to the place where
only the feet of stars step. and,
i have seen in the notes written
in his radiant eyes, a numbered
tombstones of your dreams”.

---

About the author: 
Salim Yakubu Akko is a Nigerian writer, poet and essayist from Gombe state. He has been published on Applied Worldwide, Brittle Paper, The Pine Cone Review, World Voices Magazine and elsewhere. He has been shortlisted for the 2021 Bill Ward Prize for Emerging Writers  Akko is a member of Gombe Jewel Writers Association, Creative Club Gombe state University and Hilltop Creative Arts Foundation.