Ofem Ubi

Eulogy

June 17 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #Ofringsandslavery

photocredit- Adrian McDonald Now I boil my skin daily with prayers, like a cow’s feet hoping it softens enough to soothe my Lord’s taste. Now I soak my face in Mary Kay, like a splash of rainbow hoping it twinkles to soothe his gaze. His loins got these...

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Brand New Wife

June 16 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #Ofringsandslavery

Photocredit- Adrian McDonald “My daughter, as you go to your husband’s house be very submissive. Learn to tender to his needs all the time and at whatever time he demands of you. He is your Lord, make sure you remember this always. Remember to give his...

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The Exchange

June 15 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #Ofringsandslavery

photocredit- Adrian McDonald Immediately Father said “i give out your hand in marriage”, was when I knew I had been sold out. The ribbon in my hands felt tight like a clutch. “I bless you into marriage” was a word too strange to say. There was the mortar...

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Handy Marriage

June 14 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #Ofringsandslavery

My hand in marriage. That was all and what he asked for I guess that was all he wanted, my hands, the multitasking machine. His loins needed these hands his stomach and dishes needed these hands too his bed needed these hands. And his ego, to nurture...

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With You

June 10 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #poetry

With you the sun holds no heat, the stars hold no light, the night holds no mystery and the rain holds no sound. With you the ocean holds no depth, the earth holds no weight, the story holds no ending, and the smile holds no menopause. With you the journey...

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Image Quality

June 9 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #poetry

photocredit- everythingnaart My country is obsessed with image Institutions, government, church, family. “Looking good is good business” they say Over here, we equate responsibility with image quality. We were told that we attract what we look like Instead...

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Lamnetations

June 8 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #Black-ish

photocredit- ubuntu talks My mother now looks at her grand children, descendants of an adopted culture. She laments at the foreign names they bear, and how much they yet sound like periwinkle too twisted even for her own tongue to grow familiar with....

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White Blood Cells

June 6 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #Black-ish

My mother looks at me with a half-baked smile photocredit- afropunk She tells me the oyibo has replaced my tongue with theirs so much everything I say now has a touch of innit in it. She fears that I One day will call her by her maiden name. One time...

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Learning

June 5 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #Black-ish

photocredit- sinistar22x2 I am learning all over again, the sound of my name. How to condition my tongue when saying good morning in my mother’s dialect. I am learning again, the taste of okra and ogbono, how to rumble with the never ending elasticity...

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Charcoal

June 4 2018 , Written by Ofem Ubi Published on #poetry, #Black-ish

photocredit- artnews africa Drown me back in charcoal For henceforth, my body refuses to be counterfeit, A judas to itself. Remind me of who I am and where I come from. Start with my skin, then to my mind, back to my skin again, and then inside. Heal...