SurvivalandotherPoems
PublishedbyKANACDigitalPublishingSeries info@kanac.org
Copyright © 2022byKANACDigitalPublishingSeries.
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,distributedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,includingphotocopying,recording,orotherelectronicormechanicalmethods,withouttheprior writtenpermissionofthepublisher.
Publisher’sNote:Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,and incidentsareaproductoftheauthor’simagination.Anyresemblancetoactualpeople,livingordead,ortobusinesses,companies,events,institutions, orlocalesiscompletelycoincidental.
PrintedintheU.S.A ISBN:978-978-52446-2-5
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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
CollinsNnaemeka OguduisaNigerian student.Heisalsoa freelancer.Heresidesat AbakalikiinNigeria.
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.
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.
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,
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
BarboraTomečkováis fromTheCzech Republic.Shecurrently livesatBrno.Sheisa Student.
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,
justbecausesheiswoman-weak.
Thefreedovefliesaway, andshefeels, oneflightwouldsetherfree.
Suddenly,shehearsthesoundofkeys, stepsoftheonewhoenters. Theonewhoalwaysknocksherdown. Helooksathercontemptuously, asatatrinketinthewaste.
Sheisnotworthanythingtohimtoday. Thefurtherheisawayfromher,themorerelievedsheis. Todayshesurvived, andmaybetomorrowwillbebetterday
RahmatKaboji Muhammadisfrom Nigeria.Sheisa graduateofEducation andEnglishlanguage fromBayeroUniversity, Kano.Accordingtoher: “I’mapassionate teacher,whoisbasedin Abuja,Nigeria.I’malso aserialvolunteerforthe SDGs.Idothese becauseIlovetomake animpactonmy society.”
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
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
KelseyHunt
KelseyHuntisaSouth African.Shecurrently livesinEdinburgh Scotland.Sheis completingherZoology degreeattheUniversity ofStAndrews.Shesays that“alongsidemy studies,Irunasmall businessselling handmadeaccessories.”
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.
Myemptinessiskillingme, AndIthinkI’mtoblame.
But There’safragment. AnditscreamswhileI’mdying, Itshoutslikeitisdeterminedtobeheard. Itbrings
Faintmemoriesofhappiness whichinflatemylungs
IttellsmehowitwaslostwhenIembracedtheemptiness.
ItLightsafireintheemptypit. Itburnsandburnsandburns
Androarsasthefirefillsthehole, Andthepainbegged
Fortheembersofmysoultofightforbreathoncemore. Andbecausesincethedarkenemytookeverythingfromme AllIknowisthefire,anditsburningdesiretobreathe
SylviaNworie
SylviaNnennaNworie isaNigerian.Shelives inEbonyiState,Nigeria. SheisaLegal Practitionerwholoves toindulgeincreative writing.
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
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.”
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
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.