Communion of Separation | Alfred Olaiya

 Communion of Separation  | Alfred Olaiya 

I was here with you
on this beach,
lying under a drunk moon,
waiting, yearning
for the ocean to kiss us to sleep.
Yearning,

I am now here alone.

I have become 
the sand.
You,
the ocean. 
You crawl on me in waves,
leaving me at dawn
in broken wrinkles.

Alfred Olaiya is a young poet and spoken word artist. He's in love with colours, emotional spirituality and the realms beyond. He was the second runner up at 2022 Spring Poetry Contest, he was shortlisted in the 2025 Bridgette James Poetry Contest, he was shortlisted for the 2025 Joe Ushie Poetry Prize, he was a finalist at the 2025 Custodian of African Literature (COAL) Poetry Contest. His works have appeared in Best New African Poets (BNAP) 2021 Anthology, The AprilCentaur, Decades of Nine Hills and Thrills anthology, Libretto Magazine, Soil Unfurling from Stem Anthology and elsewhere.

Honorable Mentions of the Month
These poems stood out among the twenty-two beautiful entries we received in February 2026:
• “Nocturne” by Ebuka Stephen
• “Dyscalculia” by Taiwo Hassan

~ Selected by Sharisa Aidukaitis

Editor’s Note

Upon receiving Sharisa Aidukaitis’ top three choices for the month, I was mesmerized by her selections, it was a tough decision to make. After reading each piece more than five times, Alfred Olaiya’s “Communion of Separation” stole my heart with its simple diction and evocative imagery. Though brief and accessible, the poem embodies profound emotions and resonance.

~ Daniel Aôndona