Once my home

Photo: Karim Manjra

I lived in a market once, clothed bodies

showcasing naked souls, spirogyra learning to crawl           

aided by the green paint spilt on our walls.

To the left of us was home to despair hidden

in bungalows. Wife leaving husband for lusting over skirts

and blaming it on red labels. To the right

was clenched fists, rooms with hot tempered walls

and children modelling warriors.

My home was centre to the buzzing

with its occupants’ heads turning to both sides, smiling

as though righteousness was food cooked on our grill

and chaos was our neighbours’ favourite meal.

About the author

Yvonne Nezianya is a young Nigerian writer, (performance) poet and final year student of Health Education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She writes to tell silenced stories of young girls and people facing mental health issues. Her short story, Wonders of Spirits, was shortlisted for the K and L Prize 2020.  Her works have appeared in the Micah Anthology by Poets in Nigeria, Black Skin No Mask, Ethereal, The African Writers Review and elsewhere. Connect with her on Instagram @yvonnenezy_writes and twitter @nezi_yvonne.