“The Dog Metaphor” is my attempt to conflate our vulnerability and the facades we often present to the world. The nightly ritual with the stray dog symbolizes how we deal with our own brokenness, pretending to be okay while dealing with deep-seated pain. Through this poem, I wanted to capture the raw emotions of loneliness, the rituals we cling to for solace, and the surreal moments that reflect our inner turmoil.

Michael Okafor is a Nigerian writer. His works explore the human condition. He is a member of the Nwokike Literary Club, a fellow of the SprinNG Creative Writing Fellowship ‘23, and a first runner-up at the 2023 SprinNG Annual Poetry Contest. He was longlisted for the Briefly Write Poetry Prize 2023. 

I: @OkaforMichael_