Thirty-Eight Years

One wish, two wish, three wish
But the one who wished sat by the pool
Throwing heads in it for decades
Attempting to coin a legend
Instead of just flipping a coin
Attempting to make headway
Instead of spinning tales
Heads or Tails
For years

One problem, two problems, three problems
But the only problem that dodged solution
Catching new feelings for the heartless
Attempting to be the solution with a problem
Instead of just solving the problem
Solve for X, all the while, we dey ask Why
For years

One score, one goal, same pitch and depiction
But now the crack has become the description
Hoping is now exhausting, costly and insulting
Attempting is done is secret
Instead of youthful excitement
For years

Who cares

One life, One wince for One man
But who here does not know one story
Dysfunction functioning as the recap
Attempting to make the most of a beating heart
Instead of tearing apart, tearfully persistent
For years

One day, one name echoes one hope
But this is one lifetime after a long nope
Believing is harder when heaven said no once
Attempting to hallelujah from Hell’s shore
Ignoring heaven’s door, after knocking
For years

One moment, One touch, One Word
But the ripples wave to and from eternity
Creating new tomorrows from yesterdays that die today
Healing winged from a voice that preceded angels
Attempting explanation is futile, Jesus knows us all
Instead of ashes, the glory will wake armies of Sons
For years

Who believes

Won souls for one God
But sin no more, by might that is absurd
Trusting God doesn’t always follow known trends
Attempting is replaced with obeying
Instead of binary results, we are fruitful
For years

Godzniel
©2026

Walking on eggshells

Walking on eggshells
Walking to paths not led
Toss the coin or cast the dice
But that’s acid on ice
And soon you’ll be walking and working not nice
Walk on eggshells when led
Led by LED himself and through paths unmarked by hands
Not tossed but steady as the rock under ice
Once the die is cast

Azubuike Chinonso
©2019

Barren Mother

I have an empty well of a belly.
My womb has known nothing but dying blood all my living years.
I have thought of no one but myself,
Fed no one but myself,
Placed no one before myself,
How do I have a womb except it was made to bear another, and yet
I have no idea what it means to pour a part of myself into another.
“A breast feeding mother?”
That’s a foreign name to me.
“A bread winning father?”
Who dares call me?
I am my own hero,
My own salt,
My own light in a shady place,
Come with me and I’ll lead you into the darkness.
I’d snuff the life out of my light because I do not want to share it.
I’m an evil already happening,
A menace waiting to be uncovered.
My tactics are new everyday
Yet my mind is old.
I am a dirty, dirty soul with a clogged up heart and a rigid body.

This is why I have come before the Rock of Ages,
Before The fire that purifies without consuming to ashes.
My tears produce more salt now than I have ever thought to produce.
I do not know when I ever took lessons from the ocean
But my ill will like waves come crushing over me.
I am caught up in my own dirt web,
Spun in my own fear.
I have come to you as a barren womb in need for a child.
I was born to be mother, now may I know a child?
I have come as a fruitless tree in its season.
As hungry fire,
I’m desperate.
As a docile branch,
I submit.
I accept defeat.
Let your rains fall on this arid land again, Lord.
I admit nothing was ever my own;
As I am left with nothing now I am reminded where I come from.
Give me one child, Yahweh ‘tis All I ask.
Surprise the quick-to-conclude with Your quick-to-deliver.
Let them know when their calling-me-barren tongues call me mother,
Let them know from every side of the flipping coin earth,
That You make the Barren Mother.

Adaobi Chiemelu
(c) 2018