“You are happy today?” I ask the girl.
She pays no attention, staggers to the desk and picks up the lamp.
“You are happy today,” I say again.
WAS I STRANGER? (a poem by Ekta Rana)
I saw the face, caught the eye;
unable to recognize the soul behind.
EVERYWHERE THE AIR GOES, I GO (a poem by Uwen Precious Ogban)
a trumpet needs a mouth to make its melody. we all need air to be alive.
i am standing on a branch of life
and willing it to break.
THE WARLOCK IN PURPLE GOWN (a poem by Zainab Iliyasu Bobi)
Earth and fire;
to slice the tongue sitting at the center of the market square.
INCENSE OF DIVINE OMENS (a poem by Akor Agada)
There are times hope turns into rain drops
in the quiet corner of our tongues
Pacifying the thirsty desert
MAYS (a poem by Ambali Abdulkabeer)
May the roads be clear for the air of rebirth
& the streets be free of draping agonies
GRAY HAIR (a poem by Luper Damkor)
It is a marvel, the Grace of gray
It is a cup, like the Holy Grail
Everyone longs… for a taste, they pray
OF REBIRTH IN WOES (a poem by Onwana Chibueze Declan)
When body rises to greet half-dead,
It’s house of will and intellect.
REBIRTH (a poem by Jide Badmus)
I break, heart of egg
into yolk of gratitude
—grain of time,
IN THE WINGS OF SPARROWS, A NEST FALLS & CALL ME HOLY (two poems by Osahon Oka)
Call me miracle. I cough blood into the fist of wind
& it is rain. Yes, call me saint; I have arrived before
purgatory time & time again & its doorknob has