By: Stella Chidinma Nnaji

I should not have
but it is tiring, that day.
The sun still shines just so,
the sky’s still blue
nothing wants to change
everyone wants to tell me
of that day I don’t like.
Nothing will change
so I will change.
I have put it all in the noose
and sent the stool flying.
I should not have
see how the water pour from eyes
and faces melt in.
I should not have
but it’s all done now,
no need crying over spilt milk.

Can you see me now?
If the wind had seen me
it would have laughed.

If the sun had seen me
it would have laughed.

If the moon had seen me
it would have laughed

like they all laughed
those things in skirts
milk skin a banner for the
world to see.

I was the thing
for them to stare at
and laugh, they laughed.

The sun, the wind, the moon
they would have laughed

Can’t do it now though
can’t laugh at a face
you can’t see
can’t laugh at a face
under the ground.

If i had seen me
i would have laughed.

Only Saint Alive.
Used to wonder a lot
why the stalls have voices
why they seem to breath.

Used to wonder a lot
where everyone went at lunch
why the food lay untouched.

No need to wonder again
see them matching out
skirts all hiked up
zippers all undone.

The sisters are flaming oranges
words will fly tomorrow.
I’m the only saint alive.