Anita C. Odogwu

Home isn't just where you live. It is your story. It is your history. And not everyone has the courage, To step up for what is right. We talk about it, We complain. But We all know something is wrong. Just most of us know what is wrong. Only some of us know what to do. Merely a few of us know how to do it. But only certain ones of us… Actually take a step. But Only a few undeniable souls. 'Say' that something should be done, And then 'do' it. Only a few undeniable souls… Change the world. But It's not for themselves, Or the current generation, But for the future ones. The ones that can change tomorrow. But only if they try. But We need those certain ones. Those undeniable souls. And that can be you. But Only if you choose so.

A place beyond, A place I wasn't so fond of. The air felt new, my heart renewed, The nasty holes that had been eaten through, By fear, doubt and worry, though reasons were few. I had left my home, My mother land, To a new place called England. I never knew I'd be here, In a place where, There's be so much, That I felt rushed. I felt inferior I felt different... I wasn't inferior I was different. And now. I was different too, Not on the outside, On the inside and through. But you learnt to adapt And suddenly it wasn't so bad. It was time to write a new chapter. And turn a new page. And now in a new age, I would leave my cage, And spread my wings And fly into the sky, to learn new things

Mama once said 'if you are smart you are strong'. I was smart, I was strong. There was a day, The birds did not sing their morning song. I took a walk. And met a stranger on the way. A tall dark figure, With no face or name, But hollow holes for eyes, Hollow bottomless pits. But when it spoke, it's voice, Was not only one voice, But a series of screams, Crushed under a growl, That made me squirm like a dying fowl. The figure asked me my name. It seemed tame, But had an aura so poisonous, That a bird nearby dropped from It's tree. So i replied, with my most charming smile- 'Onwumbiko.' Meaning "Death, I implore you" The figure's mouth twisted into a sneer, 'Why?' he growled, and i grinned, 'I shall make you a throne. Someone as great as you shouldn't have to stand while you make me suffer. I will create a throne befitting your shadow.' I reply The figure smiles condescending. So I went away, And built the throne i promised, The back of the chair made of iron, The seat was covered with a thin cloth, Crimson red– the colour of blood And as the figure sat, The cloth gave way, The figure fell down into an abyss, Which truly was a well, Deep to the core of the earth, Into eternal fire he fell, Never seen again. I became a hero, Of my own telling, And that is how Onwumbiko, Cheated. The. One. One. Cheated. Others.

When the leaves fall They leave the trees barren, When the time has come, We leave and let them imagine, The days go by without a doubt The hours fly past, no sign of devout. The snow comes, Cold and biting, and scorching your lungs Then it's gone, Now we're gone, We were once here, Now, never again. Then spring will come. And children would dance for joy. Villagers sing songs of praise, For what has begun, a new phase is born. All defrosts, and comes to life, And now, drawn on all, is a new design. Now it stays, but not for long. Every morning the birds will sing a morning song, Even if it goes, We know it came. And for me, That's all that matters in this game.

Whilst passing, hear the children Tell ye of what my brethren Have suffered in the time, Which ye drank merrily of wine. The time of then, The time oh when, The time ye had pride, The time when we cried. The times ye danced and pranced, Then we angrily gave and glanced. You were a menace, We considered shipping you to Venice! But as kind as I was, I did what no one does, To forgive thy crimes, Though they were many times. They thought of hanging ye, But I say, 'Let him be!' I endured many pains For ye to get that one gain. Now you come to me and choose to decide? What if we had left ye to die?

One voice makes an echo, An echo that refuses to let go, An echo doesn't just repeat, It carries its own solemn beat. The colour of my voice is more than sound, It's the strength in silence, the courage I've found, It speaks of resilience, pride in my roots, Of battles fought, of songs that repute. We're all as different, As we are the same, Any little change, would be indifferent, Even if it puts out our only flame. The colour of my voice is the strength of my skin, A legacy of struggle, but we rise again. From the roots of Africa to the streets we roam, We speak with pride—this world is our home. One voice could change something, But all our voices, can change everything. Our words could mean something, But alone they mean nothing. We built walls with fear and doubt, But the real danger was prowling about, When we thought we were safe and we could finally rest, Little did we know, we were at danger's doorstep.

One voice makes an echo, An echo that refuses to let go, An echo doesn’t just repeat, It carries its own solemn beat, We’re all as different, As we are the same, Any little change, would be indifferent, Even if it puts out our only flame. One voice could change something, But all our voices can change everything Our words could mean something, But alone they mean nothing. We built walls with fear and doubt, But the real danger was prowling about, When we thought we were safe, at last to rest, Little did we know, we faced danger’s test. The danger wasn't outside, It was eating us up from the inside, Bound to the norm, by the law What if we let our voices be heard, pure and raw. Many voices make a storm, A storm that can’t be ignored. A storm is a force that dares to venture, A storm doesn’t just destroy, it also builds a new structure. That new structure, It is a signature of our future.

The sky begins to split in two. The sound of fabric ripping is too true. The clouds disintegrate. I remember the date. As the blue sky rips, I see an array of numbers in strips. All in green monospace font, Floating in a black abyss. I know we've been caught. The numbers run like a stream. She grips my hand ever so tight. Her wide eyes gleam, With wild frantic dangerous fright. We begin to run. As the question repeats in my head. "What have you done?" I long for my sweet comfy bed. If we get caught, It'd be the end of us. The ground behind starts to tear, And I undeniably hear, The sound of my blood, In my ears, are a flood. I'd never have done it, Never taken a hit. The screams fill the air, With no more oxygen left to spare. Guilt gnaws inside of me. I knew I was part of this monstrosity. Buildings collapse and crumble. People flee and seek shelter. I stand in the middle of it all, In a place full of people yet feel alone most of all

One room, Two worlds, One person, Two souls, One shade, Two colors, My name, Is not a game, For you to mess up, And laugh at, and mock. My name is my identity. All I want is sincerity, All I need is tranquility, All I want is serenity, All I need is loyalty, My name to you is wrong, My name to you feels wrong, My name to you tastes wrong, My name to you seems wrong, But I know my name is right, But I know my name feels right, But I know my name tastes right, But I know my name seems right, But I know my name sounds right,

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