Nike Onwu

Iwájú

The bones are in full bloom,
these years after. The full kiss
of their petals. Where
is the smell of decay?
The songless throat, cavern
of ravenous prayer? The psalm
undressed of praise?
Marrow fed on nothing fattens
beautiful, what feeds tomorrow
feeds me. Out of the eater, sweetness
better than the sting before.
I was a wretched world, wrecked
garden, if you can believe it.

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Nike Onwu writes from Lagos, Nigeria. Her work has been published in Agbowo, Isele and elsewhere.