SurvivalandotherPoems
KANACDigitalAnthologySeries2020 VolumeOne i
PublishedbyKANACDigitalPublishingSeries info@kanac.org
Copyright © 2022byKANACDigitalPublishingSeries.
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Foreword
TheKANACDigitalAnthologyseriesaimsatshowcasingthecreativeworks ofbuddingcreativewriters,who,notonlyparticipatedintheannualKANAC CreativeWritingcompetitionbutwhoseworkswereshortlistedforthevariousphasesofthescreeningexercises,whichwereusuallyundertakentowardsdeterminingtheoverallwinnerineachroundofthecompetition.
Thethemeforthe2020roundoftheKANACCreativeWritingcompetition was“Survival.”Asusual,severalentriesinthepoetrycategorywerereceived. Attheendofthenumerousscreeningexercises,thefewworksinthisanthologymadethefinalshortlist.Aftertheannouncementoftheoverallwinner, whoreceivedthecashprizeofTwohundredthousandNigerianNaira,all theworksthatmadetheshortlistreceivedthorougheditorialreviewswith theassistanceoftheKANACmentorsandeditors.Theseservices,which arefree,areinlinewithKANAC’svisionofusingtheannualcreativewritingcompetitionasaplatformforidentifyingandnurturingbuddingcreative talentsfromvariouspartsoftheglobe.
Itisattheendofseveralrigorousreviewsandeditingservicesthatthis volumeoftheanthology,entitled“Survivalandotherpoems”hasemerged. Allthepoemsinthisanthologyofferdeepreflectionsontheideaofsurvival ofhumanityfromvariousformsofthreats,ailments,andconditions.Inall,the poemscelebratetheruggedspiritthathasenabledhumanitytoovercome severaladversities,includingtheCOVID-19pandemic.Asacollection,the poemsareatributetoourcommonhumanity.
KANACEditors
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Contents 1 DAREDEVILS 1 2 MENAREARMADILLOS 3 3 WHENEVENHOMEISNOTSAFE 6 4 HOPELESS 9 5 THEDARKENEMY 12 6 SURVIVAL 15 7 THEINVISIBLEENEMY 18 iv
CollinsNnaemeka OguduisaNigerian student.Heisalsoa freelancer.Heresidesat AbakalikiinNigeria.
1.DAREDEVILS
1 CollinsN.Ogudu
DAREDEVILS
We’retheunbreakablechain! Volcanoesofapandemicmeltusnot. Insecuritywhipsourears Yetwedaretolive! Officesandpocketsempty Ragingstormsofhungerandcrimelinger Fat-account-rulerslootthenation’smoney
Hoardedpalliativeslootedbythepoor-hungry-masses. Amidstseriesoflockdowns, doomedistheglobaleconomy! Thecoldhandsofdeathlurk Yetwestandundefeated.
Mountainsoflifestandimmovable Yet,wedaredance. Forourgloriousfuture FortheForceinusisevercapable,forweknow There’snoglorywithoutaheavycross. There’snorainbowwithoutrain Nogainwithoutpain.
Soonthislingeringdawn Willdisappearforabrightmorn. Andsotirelesslywe’lltillthistroubledLand Forsomedaywe’llbesand. Neverwillweweep
Butwithusjoywekeep. Thedarkesthourisafearfulstepintoagloriousfuture. Pressuresawakenthebeast thebeastofsurvivalinus.
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KiranGoswami
KiranGoswamiisa 22-year-oldstudentof PsychologyfromNew Delhi,India.Herpoem, “MenareArmadillos”is atributetoallthe migrantworkerswho weretheonly breadwinnersoftheir families.Whentheyfled fromcitiesduringthe nationwideCOVID-19 lockdown,theywere attackednotonlybythe virusbutalsobyhunger, poverty,andpatriarchy. Theyhadtosurviveit all,forthemselvesand forthosetheycaredfor.
2.MENAREARMADILLOS
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MENAREARMADILLOS
Soherewalkthearmadillos Onpathsthatarenowempty becauseeveryoneelsewastoldnottowalkanymore. Theywalklikegiant,unafraidwarriors butwhodoesn’tknowthebitterfightofawarriortobehomeatnight.
Colorofsandcastle; dreamshopesthatwashawaywiththeheatofthesun. Theirscarsandsoresareamplifiedbutnotemancipated.
Theywalkawayfromcitiespaintedlikerichcellularjails, Tovillagesthatlooklikelambmothersinslaughterhouses protectingtheirchildren.
Theseomnivoreswhotrytokeepboththeplantsandtheanimalshappy; don’tevenrealizewhentheyendupconsumingboth. Thewomenareknowntolove, andthemenareknowntoleave, sometimeshisvillageforwork, sometimeshisfamilyformoney, andsometimeshimselfforothers.
Thesearmadillosthatlookinvincible hidefromtheirownspikes undertheirownspikes. Istilldonotknow Iftheyarehidingfromthevirusor frommoneytheyneverearned.
Whileeveryoneelseisdyingfromtheairtheybreathe, theydiefromthefoodtheycouldnoteat. Butthisbodyhastolivebecauseithaspeopletofeed. Theywalkthroughhell,
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thisvoidofemptiness asensationalagony
ahorrifyingtruththatcomesintheformofapandemic. Heavyarmadilloswithnowings trytolooklikemigratorybirds Howthebreadearnersuffers
Heisexpected,evennow,tobemorethananescaper, abody
Tobefather,butcannotlookinhischildren’seyes. Tobehusband,buthismarriedlifeseemsheaviertoday; theplatethatisheavierthanthefoodyoueatisonlyrich,heknows. Tobeson,butobediencesometimeslookslikeobligations.
Ohlady,you’reagoddess,survive. Ohman,you’reasonandaman,survive. Youneedtofeedstomachs
andbecomeprayers. Forifyoudon’t youmakesomanylivescolorless. Sosurvivetheheat, thebristles, therain, thevirus, thehunger, thevoid, thepain, thepoverty, yourownself
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BarboraTomečkováis fromTheCzech Republic.Shecurrently livesatBrno.Sheisa Student.
3.WHENEVENHOMEISNOTSAFE
6 BarboraTomečková
WHENEVENHOMEISNOTSAFE
Likeacriminalshesitsonthefloor Lookingthroughawindow, ataworldwhichisnotsafe.
Justthefourcornersintheroom seemtobetorture, whereshefindsherdoom. Hershameandfeargrowstronger, thanthelockonthedoor toaplacewhichisnolongerhome.
Tearsrundownherscar-filledfaceandbruises, whichsheoftenhides fromthepainfulfactsheisabused.
Atthatmomentsheseesadoveontheledge. Stepsclosertothewindow, wheretheireyesimmediatelylock.
Shestartstofeelenviousofthedove’sfreedom, shewantstorun, flyawayfromtheonewhoiscausingherpain. Fromtheonewhomakesherdissembleeveryday, underafakemask thathersoulandbodyarenotdestroyed.
Fromtheone,whomanipulatesherwithawaveofhishand, whichneverpraisesbutpunishes,
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justbecausesheiswoman-weak.
Thefreedovefliesaway, andshefeels, oneflightwouldsetherfree.
Suddenly,shehearsthesoundofkeys, stepsoftheonewhoenters. Theonewhoalwaysknocksherdown. Helooksathercontemptuously, asatatrinketinthewaste.
Sheisnotworthanythingtohimtoday. Thefurtherheisawayfromher,themorerelievedsheis. Todayshesurvived, andmaybetomorrowwillbebetterday
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RahmatKaboji Muhammadisfrom Nigeria.Sheisa graduateofEducation andEnglishlanguage fromBayeroUniversity, Kano.Accordingtoher: “I’mapassionate teacher,whoisbasedin Abuja,Nigeria.I’malso aserialvolunteerforthe SDGs.Idothese becauseIlovetomake animpactonmy society.”
4.HOPELESS
9 RahmatK.Muhammad
HOPELESS
Whenthesunrises
Hopeshinesforth
Thrustingwindowpaneswithglows
Thattouchtheheavens
Eventheriverssmilethroughtheirflowingmeanders
Asairspraystheheatofpassion
Forthosewhowakewithamission
Tofendforsurvival
Theirear-filledsmileshide
Theheart-throbbingpains
Whiletheyhustlewiththebustle
Forabetterday
Meltingintheheatoftime
Whennothingcosts
Thentheplaguecamecalmly
AttackingGreatWallsandrippingsouls
Eventhebravestnationscouldn’twithstand
Yettheygottheambiances
Withgreatsurvivalkits
Thoughtheytrembleindailyfear
Aseveryminutesoundsthesirenedambulances
Sincedeathtookawalkonourstreets
EmptywalkwaysandHomes
Plaguethemysteryofthedeadlyodour
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Yetwewashhandseveryminute
Neitherdoweknowthecolours
Thatmaskthedistance
Thatstaymyhugsfrommybuddy
Allbecauseviruscanbeinmybody
Mybabycannotgetacuddle
Justtoreducethedeathtoll
Somecallitepidemic
Whichhasbirthedthescarypandemic
Nomoreracefortime
Justhopesforsurvival
thefittestcannotsurvive
Withoutbeingmaskedup
Thenthelockdownwipedbusinesses
Driftedloveforfamily
Suffocatedmindsinanger
Punchedeverystomachwithhunger
Everythingisonpause
Everyoneisasurvivormode
Tosurviveisnotfunny
Nottosurviveissofury
That’sthenewnormal
Theworldisnowanemptystage
Performingregretsanddamages
Wheregreatechoofsilenceresoundsfromtheearth
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KelseyHunt
KelseyHuntisaSouth African.Shecurrently livesinEdinburgh Scotland.Sheis completingherZoology degreeattheUniversity ofStAndrews.Shesays that“alongsidemy studies,Irunasmall businessselling handmadeaccessories.”
5.THEDARKENEMY
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THEDARKENEMY
EverydayIwaketofacemyenemy. Everydayisabattle.
Hisdarknessclogsdropsoflight.
Ashiswickednessglimmersacrosshisteeth, Inasharpunrelentingsmirk Thatscreamspain,torture,andvictory. Hispresencebetraysmysenses, AndallIfeelwheninbattleishim.
EverynightbeforeIdriftaway, IprayIwillnotwaketofacehimagain. Iprayitisallendedbeforehavingtoendure hiswickednessoncemore.
Buttheearofthereceiverbelievesinthefire. AndIopenmyeyestothesuffocatingdarknessoncemore.
Thatdarknesswrapsaroundmyheart
Andtheenemylaughsashisfingersstrokeit, Knowingwitheachstroke,hetakesadropofmeaway. Witheachstroke,myheartemptiesout. AndallIhaveleftisachasm.
Aholewheremysouloncewas. Andtheholeismyenemy’spartner. Hebeginstoeatmealive. Feastingonmyfears, Ignitingmypain.
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Myemptinessiskillingme, AndIthinkI’mtoblame.
But There’safragment. AnditscreamswhileI’mdying, Itshoutslikeitisdeterminedtobeheard. Itbrings
Faintmemoriesofhappiness whichinflatemylungs
IttellsmehowitwaslostwhenIembracedtheemptiness.
ItLightsafireintheemptypit. Itburnsandburnsandburns
Androarsasthefirefillsthehole, Andthepainbegged
Fortheembersofmysoultofightforbreathoncemore. Andbecausesincethedarkenemytookeverythingfromme AllIknowisthefire,anditsburningdesiretobreathe
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SylviaNworie
SylviaNnennaNworie isaNigerian.Shelives inEbonyiState,Nigeria. SheisaLegal Practitionerwholoves toindulgeincreative writing.
6.SURVIVAL
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SURVIVAL
Howoftenwillapeoplegotowar,justtobecalledformidable? Howoftenwillpeoplefight?
Howoftenwilltheyescapebyawhisker?
Whoeverevenordainsmenwarriors?
Whoarrangesbattlefields?
whotellsthemanyseasonswarswilllast?
Constantstruggles,withinandwithout Weplan.Theyrage.
Fiercenessstaringusintheface Theysmuggleinthemselvesand slowly,stealtimepreciousfromus Forcingustoquestionournormalcy everythingabouthowwelive
ripple-effectingourworld Dowecountthemendown?
Norlivelihoodscrippled?
Ortheonestryingtodustthemselvesup?
Themanydayswelivedinfear wonderingifthiswasit Imeantheonethateventuallyripsourworldapart Butswiftlyeventhoughuncertain, Wefight
rapidlyfindingdiversewaystoconquer, Thinking,doing,adapting,living Justwhentheythoughtwewerebeaten
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Weriseagainandagain Bruised,yetwillingtokeepliving. 17
MimansaMudgilisan Indian.Sheresidesat Noida(UttarPradesh)in India.Sheiscurrently pursuingMSc.Clinical Psychologyata UniversityinDelhi. Accordingtoher:“Ihave aninnatepassionfor neuropsychologyand wanttopursueaPhDin thefield.Mygoalinlife istopublishfruitful intervention-based researchforDementia patientsandusemy potentialtocontributeto society.Iwouldliketo spreadonemessage throughmyprofile-“Be Kind.Itisallthat matters.”
7.THEINVISIBLEENEMY
18 MimansaMudgil
THEINVISIBLEENEMY
Darkshadowsofuncertaintieshoveraround Theworldlaborsfromchaosofvirusunbound Scattereddropletsofhumanityjostleforcure aseverythingshrivelstoafullstop.
Naturesurprisedmankindandtookitstoll. Sendinganinvisibleviralenemy, One,eventhemostintelligentmindscouldn’thold.
Insanityspreadsallaround. Struggleforsanitybecameintense, Womensuffertherageofalcoholichusbands, Whoruthlesslybeattheirstrivingforsurvival.
Violencepaceanxiouslyasinsecuritieshoveraround. Work-from-homebecamethenewnorm, Eachday,anewstruggle. Asconfinementdarkensthedays. Forsexworkersinalurchofsurvivingmisery.
Helpreachedbutafew Aslockdownleftitsscars. Widedeathspreadworldwide, Helplessnessbecameourcries.
Manycouldnotsaygoodbyes
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Ascremationswithoutritualsbecamethenorm. Mentalhealthflewtoanall-timelow, AsNaturebloomedwithherstagnatinginhabitants.
Famousinfectionfearedbyall, Yet,humanitycreatedandcoped. Horriblevirusdarkeningourlives, Defeatedbythethrivingofgreatpositives.
Familytimebecamenormal, Oldfriendsbecamenewconstants. Timewasfoundforhobbies Newhobbiesdevelopednewtimespan.
Mentalhealthgrabbedattention, Gratitudeandhumanityprevailed. Peopleoftheworldunited. Emotionalhelpwasfoundathand.
Thoughstillfightingthevirus, Wenowknowsurvivalasinstinct, Sometimestransient,itholdsdifferentmeanings. Forsome,itisfightingthedisease, Forothers,survivingtheatrocities.
Astruggleforsurvivalforall,itwas thearrivalofthecurefornature, andachanceofrevivalforhumans.
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