Once my home
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.