Vinyl of Moans
Poems by Adegoke Adeola
The Simla Review
Published on August 30, 2026
Vinyl of Moans
My neighbors are not the best of people
Ridiculousness is on their window panes,
In the movement of their sofas,
The playlist they bask in
While my wishes waste away
in another city,
They play me beautiful vinyl of moans
In defiance of the dreamy promise of the night,
They worship, each taking the lead,
In veneration of God's unending gift
To place hands on the pulpit, erected,
To sing hymns with broken voices
Is to find love in a sacred place
I want to share Grace of the Lord
with them, congregation of trespassers,
Scroll past pinned collections, favorites,
Recently deleted, and to hidden files
Trying to find me, my wishes, verses
on how to start a night of prayers
You see, I once was a prayer warrior,
Made records of my diligence in worship
What's better than a nosy neighbor?
A neighbor matching his neighbors' rhythm
About the Author
The Simla Review
"Adegoke Adeola is a journalist, political commentator, and poet whose work engages themes of gender identity, equality, race, and violence. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Novel Afrique, Cordite Poetry Review, Caucasus Journal of Milton Studies, Kind Writers Literary Magazine, Literanation, Praxis Magazine, and BN Magazine among others."