yumnah
Poet · Federal Capital Territory · Nigeria
A shivering warmth, the living proof that calm can be bold
A writing journey
I wrote my first poem in year seven, it sounded silly to my ears at first but my whole family encouraged me to continue. However, I began writing poems habitually when I entered year 9. Our school hosted a creative writing contest and I submitted a poem I wrote dedicated to my twin; I won the poetry category of the competition. From then on, poetry wasn't just words to me but misplaced feelings, a voice that never backs down and comfort. I get inspired by little things like a sip of water, state of politics and even painful memories. Now poetry has become a part of me. I don't just write poetry, I live it.
Published writing
Womanity
She speaks a word,
and they rush to interrupt.
Baba stop, let me speak
"Am I not human enough?", she says
They say she belongs in the home
They say she should lower her tone
but she refuses to stay in those chains, those shackles.
Because even her voice can testify to that womanity.
She wants to be free,
she wants to be seen.
Not just in the kitchen
but Building skyscrapers,
Making decisions to move the nation forward
Appearing in those dusty magazines.
Can't a woman dream,
Can't her plans be extreme?
Because I believe she's not speaking in tongues
when she says,
"I don't just want to be Achalugo-
I want to be the Odogwu ."
NOTE:
Achalugo is a term in the Igbo language that means the wife of a rich man.
Odogwu is a term in the Igbo language that means a rich man.
Tangled souls
Tangled souls
But different worlds
A love story so beautiful
yet so toxic
Addiction is the result of
such intoxication by love
Sweet memories
now a bitter past.
She was like a wound,
he never wanted to heal.
An Ode to Endurance
As the rays of the sun
hit my brown skin
Sweat commenced to trickle down
But the most fascinating,
The drops of liquid that
touched the bridges of my throat,
felt like a shivering warmth.
Reminding me that with
every hardship,
there comes ease.