You are an Extension of Art…

A POEM BY CHUKWUMA-EKE PACELLA

*INUGO?

I know of a lady who carries the day inside of her.
You could never blame her mouth for spitting out

red-hot words into the world's ear;
it's burning in there.

"I-n-u-g-o" could be a matchstick/ carbon/ the origin of fire;
should it spill from this furnace I proclaim.

Once— she told a tale that flew into the openings
of every moving vessel before aurora's call;

of the white mole a maid dug out of the King's thighs.
Say, the next day, even the shepherds flock sang praises

to the ruler's unique balls.

I carry the day inside my mouth.
So I need no forecast to tell the end of summer

or the onset of snow flakes gushing from our hearts.
Listen, I remember the second your mother's eyes confessed lust

to that Catholic Monk

& the noon your Father's hand kissed his Father's concubine
in the eyes, twice. I could replay the moans

that escaped through the gate keeper's punctured roof last night,
& its rhythm had merged, doubtlessly, with your name.

Ps: Inugo? It's going to be a boy…

*Glosary: Inugo: Have you heard?
***

Author
Chukwuma-Eke Pacella, NGP Xv, is a seventeen years old Nigerian author. She is the winner of the Cradle poetry contest and Joint winner of the Feast Of Words Poetry Contest. She is also the recipient of the 2022 Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors(Poetry Category), Ist runner up for the BKPW contest( February/March Edition), and HIASFEST’s Most Valuable Female Contestant, 2022. Some of her works have appeared or are forthcoming in the Eunoia magazine, Brittle Paper, Kalahari Review, Synchronized chaos magazine, last leaves, Rigorous magazine, Havenspec, Cajun mutt, Teenlit journal and elsewhere. She also has works on literal anthologies like the "Do Not Die In Their War" Poetry Anthology, "A Universe Where You= Me, My rainbow books collection, Love portion Anthology, Roses for cancer warriors and others. She is a member of The HillTop Creative Arts Foundation.