Published May 15th, 2024
Wax International Poetry Contest #1 – First Place
by Chelsea Awang
This crystal drizzle
A colourful calm
You in a red agbada
Under a blue full noon.
All my friends are busy
Soul traffic is heavy.
Her gentle beak
An elegant gaze
The twitch of her lips
– a failed hidden smile
Lack of destiny
– in pat-on-back fashion.
Lady,
You appeared before
The streaked sun line
Sincere brows lifted
Sparing me only
A lasting passing glance.
I should have said,
"Give that back, miss.
Give my future back to me."
But I held you back
Instead
With belated forever
Knowing all of each other
Written into our gaze
Like us,
March knows sunny rain
The huddled intimacy
Under leaky store eaves
Someone let me be a raindrop
To fall into her eyes
The blue hour haze
as corn stalks
Hide whispered talks
Two teal toasting umbrellas
Spooning on the floor
Water on her hair floats as
Ants rested on dust storms
Or pearly heaven drops
On cloudy mountain tops
Wet but disorderly
Anxious for life
Laughter
Soaked conversations
More and more
We squeeze each other raw
I don't say where I'm from
You don't say where you ought to be
We both fear the upcoming night
I feel her shiver beside me
"Under the sun rain of march,"
I hear her say
"After meeting a brilliant woman
like you
Why shan't I be happy?"
About the Poet
Chelsea Awang resides in Jimeta, Adamawa, Nigeria.
Read the poet's biography on Chelsea Awang's Artist Page.
This poem is featured in Wax Poetry and Art Magazine #4, published in the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
Previously published in Wax International:
The Eye
by Nkoyo Nsa
Wax International Poetry Magazine is part of the Wax Poetry and Art Network.
- Visit the main Wax Poetry and Art Submissions Page to see all opportunities.
- Visit the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
- This website and all contents ©Kirk Ramdath and specified artists.
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