A THORN ON OUR ARMOR (Poetry by Emechetta Christian)
A THORN ON OUR ARMOR
in the economics of dystopia, we estimate
the cost of friendly dialogs, the currency
of grief echoing through stormy skies.
in Congo, mothers twist Despair
into prayers, seeking explanations
to their predicaments, but no deity stirs
to alter their anguish.
when a woman cradles a child, bearing
the distressing weight of price tags,
it hunts her dignity like a roaming city cat.
"being human is to embrace uncertainties," but
when a woman gets tired, she dines with her demons.
desire measures men, their longing knitted
into a bloated vest, each stitch,
an attempt to outdress their wounds,
to name them by their design.
when tongues tap on the faucet
of hopelessness, a flood of words overflows,
while goodness and mercy burrow within.
mothers dig trenches for their waring sons
who need the energy to win government-funded combats.
in towns deprived of masculinity,
teenage boys silence their boyhood, tone down
its opulence, display it quietly,
abandon responsibilities and call it flex.
they retreat to the arms of roving prostitutes,
feelings capsized and treachery gains attention.
when I bite the dust, leave my body bag unzipped,
allow everyone to stare at me like a shooting star.
the motion on my lips can be called a smile and
the paleness on my skin can be called redemption.
About The Author
Emecheta Christian is a brilliant writer whose work explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of the human experience. His works have appeared in esteemed literary journals and anthologies such as The Potter's Poetry, Indiana Review, Oxford American, Four Way Review, the Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day Series, and elsewhere. He has been recognized with several awards, including the prestigious Lane Writers Award and the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. Emecheta's unique voice and evocative imagery have garnered him a growing reputation as a voice of change in the global literary scene.