Colour your mind, charm your world

 There in her chamber, seated on her big gold crested cushion, she felt deep peace. Nothing on earth would compare to this calmness that her heart has attained. She dragged in sweet air, held it tight as if it was her last and let it out gracefully as she rested on her cushion. It won't be long before she looses consciousness.  The events of her life in the past few years felt like dark magic. She shut her eyes to see her loved ones, this was the only way she could remember their faces and feel their warmth for they were all connected only by the soul.  She smelt her youngest son, he was only 9 months old before he passed away. "Strange world" she muttered to herself and smirked. It was hard for her to have lost them but the sting of death didn't affect her anymore, she has lost everything that could cause her pain. She felt like her husband was talking to her, she jerked up with eyes wide open in surprise. But he wasn't there, he had died from lung Cancer. She le...

  There's something about Ahamefuna that disturbs my spirit. He came home from work like every other day, tired but excited to see his family. He put up a long grin that almost looks fake, holding a bag of groceries I had asked for earlier in the day. The atmosphere changed with his presence, the feeling of dear gripped me tightly but I remained calm anyways. I kept asking how his day went and he kept ignoring the question like he didn't hear what I said. I kept looking at him, looking for traces of anything that would confirm my fears... He kept starring at me like he had a thousand words to say but was held back by a border. I could see him from the side of my eyes as I cut vegetables for dinner. I couldn't place my hands on this mystery but it felt like he was aloof. He offered to cook dinner with me and even put the kids to bed. My husband is the sweetest man I ever know but he associates cooking with the female gender, I didn't mind because I love cooking. He spent...

  Chapter 1 It started with a subtle smile, he said he liked the colour of my eyes. I found it weird at first but said thank you because I have always been a polite person. It became a routine of greetings and from greetings, short chats. Days became months and I became eager to see him daily. He was no longer the dirty looking "Agbero" I first saw, he was now a friend that I found solace in. I do not know what to call it but it felt like a tingling in my heart, a flood of intense emotions flowing through my vains. I didn't realize how bold I had become with him, I didn't notice the whispers and stares, I probably didn't care. I would give anything to see him every single day. On a very cold evening, I was walking home, eyes searching every nook and cranny of the streets of Balogun, seeking for my friend. He waved from a mini provision store and immediately I walked towards his direction.

 It must hurt deeply to lose a loved one. There wasn't really enough emotion on Abena's face to convey this. She has been sitting on the wooden bench under the coconut tree for hours, dazed. She probably didn't understand how a child who was playing with sand in the morning could be dead now.  Kofi was playing with sand and water near his mother's little garden. He would wet sand with water from his mother's garden pipe and th en mold little houses. He was happy, whole and full of life. Abena was starring at him from her kitchen window, reminiscing about his birth. She didn't know she was in labour and also didn't think Childbirth was as painful as people described it. Hers was fast, she didn't have enough time to think about the pain or dwell in the pain. In minutes, her son came through and the midwife literally had to catch him. Now she's starring at him, all grown. She was smiling at him as he played with sand until the look of Peace on his face ...

 Nothing feels the same again. The sun doesn't rise and set like it used to anymore. Time seems like it has become shorter. I never get to see 1pm nor 8pm anymore, probably because they are the rush hours of my life now. I can't remember the last time I looked at the moon with loved ones, starring deep and looking for imaginary moon workers. I miss the way the moon illuminates darkness and creates a soothing calmness as we waste away the night in story telling... I miss my father's deep bass as he tells us about his childhood. Nothing is more beautiful than the pictures of our imagination. The tales of Akpugoeze decades before I was born. The smell of roasted corn and ube, the background sound created by crickets.  Slowly but steadily I am taken to the land of dreams where I can't live in but I am rewarded with memories. Memories created from the pictures of my imagination.  Those were the days of bliss...

 She walked into the room after that heated argument with her eyes fixed downwards on the tiles. She struggled with her facial expressions in order not to look frail. Her face were tightened up like a warrior and her stomach lurched. Her lungs gave little or no room for air to pass. Her head was hot and her feet tingled. The air in the room became musty and unbearable yet she poised herself like the queen of England gently to her seat. She wasn't going to break the bricks and layers of pride she had built, she definitely wasn't going to let tears melt down the cement she smeared all over her tower of pride.  From her side eye, she could see him pressing his phone, oblivious and graceful. Full of peace and calmness. He was oblivious to her tower and while she burning red hot inside, he giggled at the pictures in front of him.

 You sat amongst your brothers And together, you ate colanut with finely brewed tea The smile on your faces were even But you, I know you. Your heart reeks of spite The type that comes from a reicarnated soul You stare innocently but your eyes speak volumes I see the envy and pride Ripening like pure palm wine, ready to be tapped You hugged your brothers with a snare when no one looked I saw you. You broke the sacred oath your father bestowed I saw you pass a sword through your brother's heart In a foreign land, he bled and died without dignity He was buried in shallow sand like a mad dog Like an outcast who was sent to the evil forest I saw you. In your chamber you gloried Marvelling at your orchestration While you put up a facade of tears amongst brothers You are the thorn underneath flowers I saw you. History has never held a stone up The sun looked at you with fury and disgust Your brother died in a strange land unknown Your corpse will be paraded shamefully in your hometown. C...

 Today will be different from the others because I have walked into this cold and dark room which I left for months. I turned on the lights and there they were, my memories. They blossomed and coloured the room like a rainbow and my grey heart began to leap for Joy. On the walls were my thoughts, a compilation of letters and words that has the tendency of lighting the darkest paths in your hearts.  I am climbing the ladder to consistency but my feeble legs keep me glued to a spot and in the process the lights in my room go off. I do not like this. However, every single time I walk back into the room and the lights come back on, I am revived to keep colouring! I am CataleaBonez, it is my duty to colour your mind, so you can Charm your World...

 When you got here, the doors were locked. You looked through the window and when I saw you, I shrugged feigning Oblivion. You stood there for what seemed like forever but then again I wasn't ready to open up. You knocked and Kept knocking on the door till your hands were sore. You didn't stop. I saw undying love in your eyes and I wondered at your zeal. I let go of all insecurities and swung the doors open. Holding on to your hands, I wept greatly. I was broken from prison and had just been let loose. I didn't know this man. But peace dwelt in his eyes. I was grieving and he grieved with me. Nothing mattered anymore, this was a reality that sweetened my spirit. I rested greatly in his mysteries. I became light. However, he walked in and I saw a slight frown after looking around. The house was covered in cobwebs, the curtains that should have been White were all brown with dust. The walls were cracked up all over. It was all broken, every single thing in my house. He stared...

  I was born on black sand Of a people whose grief know no bounds Groomed with stringent measures And made to rely on hope so ethereal Life was rigid like the god of oghene I upheld rules as numerous as sand  All in a bid to avoid the wrath of the gods With permanent smite hidden in my heart They were swift at the table of sacrifice Eager to slit the throat of a Young virgin To appease a god whose desire Is to keep taking till our souls are given I looked deep into the great portrait Moping around in search of love Perhaps an atom of humanity All I saw was ruthlessness I raised my hands to the skies in frustration Seeking for a god whose burden was lighter Tears flowed like blood from ogbete shrine I tarried in Oblivion till dusk Out of thunder, a voice persists From the skies came consolation Piercing deep into my heart Leaving a permanent scar that I called encounter "I have loved you with a love that is divine Even before you knew love I do not need you, Somehow I want you ...

 From the basket of choices I chose mara in Oblivion I came broken, and without will Even my body gave way in contempt I watched life evolve from a dark place At night I wallowed in pain And in deep ponder,  I questioned my Chi Why have you given me mara? That my limbs refused to aid me My neck wobbled in pain And my head was too heavy You have graced the others With limbs that praise them tirelessly And without pain, they roam in routine While I tarry in the dark I grew on my back  Bracing each passing day horizontally I became too heavy  Pain grew deeper in the process Finally you decide to let me float To reign in light heavenly body Organ by organ, I gave up I left the world with a smile of relief

 You've broken my walls and shattered my heart. Nothing hurts as much as the moment. The single moment when I watched life sizzle out of your weak body. I have been told that you are a star and that your light can't be quenched but still you left. You made me doubt your Chi. For nine years I looked beyond your illness, beyond the pain and struggle, beyond the agony of watching you groan in pain all through the night only for you to fall asleep in daytime. I had to drug you at the right time so we would both shut our eyes at night. I hoped greatly that you would overcome and become that star they've always talked about. But your body gave way and I watched you break organ by organ until your heart pumped blood for the very last time. I loved you and I always will. Maybe you were indeed a star, you taught me strength and patience. You held my life for nine years so that I could look at what mattered the most. I nursed you in love and even in death, my love persists.  Live on...

First of all, you assured me that it wasn't your new friends, that they had no power to influence who you've become over the years. I listened and was quiet for months. I let you explore because I thought I was rather too harsh. You grew in the midst of low thinking human beings and your value started to drop. I watched you become so conscious of the most useless things, even the attention of men that could devour you and leave your soul empty. Again I pricked your heart from my chambers but I realized that your eyes were closed and upon them a Vail. Your ears were busy listening to jazz and hip hop. Your hands were full with bags upon bags from the shopping mall in town.  On the day you inhaled cocaine, persuaded by a man old enough to be your grand father, I shouted from the bowels of your heart. But you didn't want to look stupid in front of him, you didn't want him to think you weren't strong enough. You coughed, chocked and smiled in pain and he watched you ...

Dear Karen, I am honoured that you have considered my house worthy of a visit. I am glad that you feel it's necessary to brace the walls of my home but I'd also like you to know that you'll be far from pleased when you come. First of all karen, I do not wake up at 4am to ring the morning bells and whistles. Of course I wouldn't want to wake a three day old baby who hasn't even slept up to 30 minutes. I'm not going to be pleased when you come in and find the house dusty and scattered with toy building blocks, Teddy bears and rubber dolls. However, I won't budge when you speak with your eyes in a manner of contempt. I haven't had a complete meal since the baby was born and I can't tell when last I did the laundry.  For once, I won't be shamed when your eyes wander like a torch light in the dark, towards my bloated stomach and hideous stretch marks. I won't feel attacked looking at your perfect figure. Your nicely tucked packet shirt and a t...

I'm not in the best of moods today. I haven't been in weeks. Having to wonder what happens after every minute is quite a lot of work. Having to look out the window every beautiful evening, wishing away the chance I had to be a step better. Longing every minute than before to be the picture I see in my heart, the picture of the woman who has conquered her fears and has lived potential to the fullest. Today, I am like you. I feel the same way you feel the other day when you couldn't solve a math equation in class. I feel exactly the same way you felt when your legs trembled and your heart skipped. The feeling of incapability mixed with low self-esteem. I saw you walk a thirty minute journey alone to your house, weeping. I felt your walls of defense crumbling down and now your little pride is melting under the stringent watch of the hot afternoon sun. I see the pain in your wincing face and I hear the deep groans. It's okay, let it all out. I know you felt capable yeste...

Hidden under the sun 🌞 Many young people today are moving with this notion that everything is already in existence. Therefore, the ideas are exhausted. Nothing to anticipate on. All these things have lead to kill dreams and made purposes unfulfilled. "I've looked everywhere but its all in existence; nothing to trigger the world anymore, all the ideas have been exhausted. Even though I think of one, boom! It's already  invented by someone else. I'm tired, I'm just really tired!. The truth is, there is nothing hidden under the sun." These are the words of Idika my younger brother who has successfully roared like a lion all in the name of expressing his emotions about the inventions of almost everything he has thought about.  Watching him grow up was a wonderful experience because he was just so mystical. Everything he did was always out of the blues. Sometimes it made me laugh but sometimes it got me thinking about how great he will be when he grows up. He i...

I had been asked by mother to go and sell bags of sachet water for a customer. The sun had fallen and now the evening breeze cool like harmattan mornings. I was busy watching the evening program that I so Loved. Mother had already conversed with the buyer on phone, stating that she had enough cold water and hot water. I knew she was about to end the call and immediately I felt a lurch in my stomach. She turned towards me from where she was seated on the ground, "kunie! Go and sell water for papa!" She said in very high tones as usual. I stared at her and gave out a weak sigh. I staggered towards the shelf on which the factory keys were kept and took a stack of packing Bags so that I wouldn't have to come back to the house until I was done. I couldn't explain what I felt, I wasn't ready to leave my TV program and I certainly didn't want to sell bags of water at the moment. Not now. Immediately my legs began to tremble. I realized soonest that I wasn't goo...

My Neighborhood. Waking up from the bed to a beautiful day, designed for a purpose to be fulfilled, makes it memorable in my neighborhood. This saying that "naija no dey sleep" is a very true sayin. Everyone is on the move with their respective businesses and areas where it is located. Well, I didn't grow up in Ajegunle,  Lagos State but my neighborhood is a bit close to it's natural phenomenon.  Abuja, though the capital city of Nigeria is rated as the smallest city or state in the country; with it's population in a countable sense. It is beautiful and well structured with diversified people living in it. Apart from the language and cultural differences, it also involves people with good manners and the opposite. You can imagine living in the midst of people you can't avoid no matter the circumstances. It's fun, lovely, dramatic, crazy,  hilarious and whatever you can classify an "Ajegunleish" kinda neighborhood. What drives me crazy, is th...

By Onuorah Francisca The world was created in a unique way. The creator himself looked at it and knew it was good. He created man. After all the work of creation, he thought it wise that the first man needed a companion. He created a companion which was called ‘Woman'. A woman is a companion; She is a helper; She is a shield; She is a warrior; She is love; She is compassionate; She is caring; She is kind; She is enduring; She is beautiful; She is fearless; She is powerful; She is smart. Every woman needs to be cherished, loved and cared for. For any one woman you have in your life, you have to guide her because she is a nation treasure, because she is passionate and loving. Never you be the reason a woman has to shed tears. Womanhood is everything. A woman reproduces, she is second to God because through her God’s work of recreation is made manifest on earth. She is strong. She is selfless. When she goes into the labour room, it's a two edged sword; her or the baby....

The have asked questions. Questions about nature is. Their questions were shallow and opposite to the answers I bore in mind. I speak in abstract terms. In a realm that is different and full of realities. I speak through the voice of the two edge sword. A voice from the throne of grace. I will tell you my story On the day of my creation, he thought deep and out of great desire, he wished I would be like him and out of greatness, his thoughts came to existence. He breathed through my nostrils and life engulfed me. I was him and he was me. I was his nature. I lived with him and we became one. A grave covenant. On the day this covenant was broken, I was caught unawares. I didn't see the writings on the wall and I didn't realize that my wisdom was foolishness. On that day, every bit of innocence sipped out of me as a bit into the apple of death. Immediately I became loose and out of the covenant with my make. I committed sin for the first time. I never new it'd be the beginn...