I No Rehearse Again

I park outside my father’s compound
Engine off, but I still sit
For my phone, I type three openings
None of them sound right to me
We last talk before the Christmas
Wey our argument scatter house
Since then, na birthday text and greetings
Every sentence carefully checked
My younger sister see my motor
Come outside, tap on the glass
“Daddy dey back, e dey water pepper”
I still ask, “E get visitor?”

She look me, point towards the passage
I get down and lock the car
Papa stand beside the tap
With one green hose inside him hand
I start, “Sir, concerning last December”
He turn the tap and let me talk
I tell am where my words were wicked
He tell me where him own went wrong
Then he pull two chairs together
One get dust upon the seat
As I bend to wipe am with my sleeve
He bring cloth, say make I leave

I no rehearse again
Father, I come through Jesus
He don make the way
I fit tell You as e be
Mercy for the wrong I bring
Grace to help me where I weak
Through Your Son, I get access
Father, I fit come to You

Later, as we share groundnut
Papa ask about my work
I tell am wetin I dey manage
Things I never put for text
On my way home, I remember
How I sometimes pray to God
Like I dey wait outside His compound
Trying to arrange my words
But through Christ, we have one Spirit
And access unto the Father
I no need invent introduction
Before I bring my need to Him

I no rehearse again
Father, I come through Jesus
He don make the way
I fit tell You as e be
Mercy for the wrong I bring
Grace to help me where I weak
Through Your Son, I get access
Father, I fit come to You

I fit come when prayer flow freely
I fit come when words no come
I fit bring the thing wey shame me
I fit ask for help to change
You invite me near through Jesus
To receive the help I need
So I bring my whole attention
Father, teach me how to listen

When I reach house that evening
I no wait to find fine song
I sit down beside the window
Tell You how the visit go
Thank You for my father’s welcome
Help us keep the peace we start
Then I pray for those still waiting
For the courage to make that call

I no rehearse again
Father, I come through Jesus
He don make the way
I fit tell You as e be
Mercy for the wrong I bring
Grace to help me where I weak
Through Your Son, I get access
Father, I fit come to You

Papa send one message later
“Next time, bring the children too”
I reply, “We go come on Sunday”
Then I turn again to You
Father, thank You for today
Tomorrow, we go talk again