Tolulope Arotile
She dared.
She dreamt.
She took on wings
when some would not even dare walk.
She took to the sky
so the ground could be safe.
She took on her gear,
saw combat,
came back safe
only to have her wings tragically plucked
while on recess.
We lost her.
We are sad.
We mourn.
We are angry.
We cry over our failings.
But…
Can we, for once, mourn as one?
Can we let the tears run down in peace?
Can we pull together, rather than dig trenches?
Can we, for once, bury the divide?
Can we, for once, let go of the assumptions
and simply let the facts speak to us?
Can we let the tears wash our minds
and caress our souls?
She is gone.
She flies now, without the wings.
She flies, unhindered by the gear,
unrestrained by time,
unencumbered by us
Tolulope Arotile,
the best of us.
symbolised the best in us
She dared.
She rose to the occasion.
She took on wings when the nation called.
Now she has taken on new wings
She flies unhindered
above the radar
She flies.
If only we will let the tears wash over the divide.
If only we can find a way to pull together
rather than keep tripping over ourselves.
If only we can let go of the endless accusations
unending strife and mindless killings
and simply embrace peace
So she can truly fly unhindered.
