Nnamdi Azikiwe

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At Least

Grade 4 I came face to face with the devil
Perception based on pigment, cursed with shallow vision
He hates the unknown

“At least i’m not black” he told me

God always said the devil is the greatest deceiver
I deceived myself in the shower that night
Thinking maybe this pain or this paint will stain onyx the drain
If I just scrub hard enough this coal skin will reveal diamonds

The devil wraps his will around your anatomy
Tongue fastened to silence because no permission is needed
He does not ask you to carry his weight around for eternity, he compels it

Your brain is a prisoner with your mind’s eyes blindfolded
Mental chains precede physical
Lips yearning for nectar that is dancing steadily beyond reach of restrained
thoughts
Imagine the thirst of acceptance quenched

The liquid of self-loathing you receive is poured boundlessly over silk wrapped
cognition
Wheezing to capture elusive breaths of tranquility and freedom