Delicate and Young
Breathe into me your
elements,
and become the elixir
that melts into my pain.
Help me.
I have unlearned the
secrets of laughter I stole
from the shrine of little
smiling gods.
In the quiet, check my
left eye.
You'll find the tear of
an abandoned angel
at heaven's portal,
carrying all the wasted
loves of the world.
Wild—
I hang on to the fallen
leaf of hope that refuses to die,
with eyes that say
nothing but question everything.
My injured love could
find belief and dream again.
I would understand the
rhythm of falling, breaking and rising.
Ears opened to the melodies
of a singing flower
that holds the key to
eternal youth.
You'd be all I see every
time I close my eyes.
And I, so delicate and
young.
Chidozie Okonkwo
Chidozie Okonkwo is a creative
writer and performance poet. His works have made both international and local
appearances in literary journals, magazines, anthologies, newspapers and blogs.
He has previously been published on Brittle Paper, The Whiskey Blot Journal,
The Lowdown Station, Eduquest, Akụkọ, Trinitas Newspaper and elsewhere. He was
educated at University of Nigeria Nsukka, where he studied English and Literary
Studies. You can reach him on Instagram @pengod1 or his personal mailbox: messagepengod@gmail.com