Amen | John Chinaka Onyeche

(cover photograph direction: David Obi)

It is the job of mumbled prayers

to help you calm your hurts and fears.

– Roger Robinson

Crisis, this that I’m into.

They say a man faces it once

just once, in a lifetime.

But here, in my own,

I have been swimming in it

without reaching the shore

where at least I can breathe,

to look at them from behind

say; what a manner of man I am

to have carried on.

But if I am unable this time

to swim over this turbulence

oh, God, take my dust,

let the wind dance it to nothing.

John Chinaka Onyeche

is a Nigerian writer (BIPOC) and historian from Etche in Rivers State. A graduate of history and diplomatic studies. He serves as a poetry curator with Port Harcourt Literary Review. He is dedicated to ensuring that the full scope of history is accurately represented poetically. John lately writes about family, separation and the death of loved ones. His writing can be found in various journals, including Meddlebury Institute of International Studies, York Literary Review of York St John University, Charles University Prague, Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival, Rigorous, Ebedi Review, Overtly Lit, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, McNeese State University, Pier Review University of Brighton, Tilted House Journal, Akewi Magazine, Brittle Paper and forthcoming on Akpata Review. Best of Net, 2022, Pushcart, 2023. Connect with him on Twitter @Apostlejohnchin or https://linker.ee/RememberAjc