NCHA NKOTA
HOW TO READ MY BODY LANGUAGE
I do not know so much about bodiesBut the chemistry I share with mineis an improper fraction When you see me slouchIt is the silhouette of a girlAfraid of living in her own bodyBecause it is a boulevard of anguish How my body has become a slate for writing wannabe miraclesA litmus paper for religious […]
PLAYING THE GAME OF NUMBERS
More often than not, we are bent on the flamboyance of having a lot of people in our circle meanwhile there is nothing valuable coming out of us or the people we have resolved to attach ourselves to. It is not about the number of people you attract to your side but that one person […]
RAPE
Dear Mberede,How is everything with you? Let’s just broker this for judgement. First,It was a tease. A reminder of my carefully crafted work of art. God probably lost his manners. Utter partiality. What a banging body. That’s why they call me Ujunwa. Secondly,That evening, you spoke without words. A million gestures. Sheer employment for every […]
DYSMENORRHEA
Assuming a scissors stance with legs crossedRegrets drizzled her memoryGazing furtively around the roomShe was lost in thought Wearing an unkempt look and a wrinkled noseHer ears were red with her eyes protruding from its socketIt’s that time of the month again With clenched fists she smacks the wallHow long is this going to linger […]
WHERE I CALL HOME
I grew up in a makeshift hutWhere anger bore holes on our leaky roofHere, we filtered laughter often to weigh its worthUrchins – There were six of us, I became the 7th one In our house, problems creep in and outSo, I dug 7 holes where I poured libations to appease their tempersThe outcome – […]
A LETTER TO MY COUNTRY MAN
You call them WAZOBIA! His tribal marks remind you of how Iya Bisi tore your skin with strokes The aroma sizzles through your nostrilsBrushing your hunger asideYou imagine it splatter through the wall of their intestines A plate of green concoction and atarodo puree – blazing redSlices of pepperSlimy They call it ewedu & AmalaA […]
FANTASY
May 12th, A freaky morning With sunken eyes, in the wee hours Awaken for the umpteenth time to pass water Grasps the mobile phone with incessant notifications popping up Its light obstructs my view I switch over to a dark mode I remember the name, odd, bleakMy heart skips a beat On my screen, the […]
FLAWS AND ALL
If there is one thing I cherish, it would be how your lip trembles when you call me Barbie. The way I watch each letter part into a symphony to become my name. A tingling sensation. I blush crimson, rubySometimes, maroon then rouge. There is love in sharing, so we toast over an overflowing cup […]
DIARY OF A TYPICAL BOY
The longest piece you might read today WHO YOU CALL BOY On days like this, I conclude a boy’s face is an emoji. A million shades but is permitted to use a specific one. All he has left are fragments. WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE The pressure is much. You can see it through his pale […]