by Philip Chijioke Abonyi

hold on. do not crawl into 
the stillness of your body to yeast your grief,
do not grow your tongue
into blames growing towards heaven,
do not chase the light out of your heart 
by seeking salvation in darkness,
he died on the cross so that our 
chains will be broken,
so that our sins are washed away 
like a stream moving on the face of the stone,
hold on. he knew of this storm 
before you were born, 
even before you were planted 
into your mother's body. he knew what you
will become and the potholes 
along your road of life,
why do you narrow yourself
into the thought of tomorrow's birth,
whether it will be fortunate or unfortunate? 
hold on. he knew of this storm 
before it caught up with you
he stretches his eyes into the future 
and paints your dreams with flying colors,
do not crawl into
the stillness of your body to yeast your grief,
just feed him with praises 
and watch the storm withers into nothingness. 

Philip Chijioke Abonyi was born at Nsukka in the Igbo region of the east state of Nigeria. He was educated at Government College (CSS) Ada Obollo Etiti and Anambra State Polytechnic. He has lived an active life uplifting modern African Literature. His poetry is noted for its artistry, descriptive power and the way in which he draws on his locality for imagery and ideas. He was shortlisted for Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize 2018. His work has appeared in African writer’s magazines like AceWorld, Eve Magazine, Qwenu, Allpoetry, Tushstories, spriNG, Praxis Magazine, Eboquill, Nantygreens, and elsewhere.