like the mountains I’ve learnt to still

myself amidst devouring downpours & hungry

whirlwinds.

I have quieted my tongue from stringing words that

scatter me in many places at the same time.

my mind had travelled the way of

c h a o s  /                     &

                 my body bore the wreckage;  many times. many times.

                I remember that in

former days I hosted songs that

scorched my larynx / songs forced into

                             my throat  //          days like

yesterday / like last night // days like

today when this country wants to

carve me into a

mountain.

Bio statement

Chisom Charles Nnanna is a Nigerian Poet with contributions in Brittle Paper, Kalahari, Feral, The Shallow Tales Review, Còn-siò, and elsewhere. He was a winner in the 2021 Shuzia Redemption Poetry Competition, won a honourable mention in the 2020 Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize (EOPP), and was among the top entrants in the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP), 2021. He writes from Ilorin, and tweets @runnyink_