GENESIS #I AM NIGERIA

by debeerah in Writing on November 20, 2021

GENESIS

I was named after the river running through our yard and
after the sun had painted my skin a darker shade of black
and the master’s whip had drawn tribal marks
in plantations of pain, upon my back

Hunger has made my black belly a porthole of broken promises
and ulcers bleed my tribal marks and money flows into crevices
my silence is louder than the voices of a million wishes
but I am a child still

They say the roots on my hair will grow to become healing herbs
that after healing, tribal marks become beautiful pearls
the river will flow, waves of purity against my dirt
in this plantation, my sweat is sweeter than honey

Deborah A. Joshua is a writer, volunteer, hippophile and lover of art and stories. She is a student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU.
Phone number: 08169693021
IG handle:- @deberahh