“Becoming” by Tolase Ajibola

We became a castle
after we met as beach sand. Soldering
brick by brick, remaking ourselves
into things we could be;
a light bulb hanging down
a copper string.

I remember you turning to glass
when windows were scarce.

Our walls, hungry like the kingfisher and the ocean
feeding on drops returning from the bird’s beak.
The bird, imitating us, becoming
a spot on the ocean, a shadow of light and air.

Somewhere, sand particles are being repositioned
like pieces on a chessboard
rising, falling, fighting
to become one of us.