by Philip Chijioke Abonyi
begin by opening the door of your heart. sweep all the sins away say, Father, I am not worthy to call your name, to talk more of you walking into my body to live. a dwelling of owls/ dark images/ and everything thing that does not please you forgive me, Father, even though I deserve to be snared into the eternal fire into the jaw of the wild beasts to enjoy the seeds of my labors I have tasted darkness enough and see that it is vanity/ I want to be fed with your light forever/ I want to follow you to adore even the soil you walk on/ I want to be the light leading the world into your temple/ I want to love you even if I will be hated by all/ or buried into the soil of humiliation alive/ today, I grow my tongues into praises you are a drop of water that grows into oceans you are the tree growing in the rock you are the origin of beauty you are the moonlight depriving night from existing in our hearts you are the genesis and revelation hallelujah heal me, God, from the anguish of the enemy save me from the arrows shot from grieving hearts let me not be tempted to devour my innocence by burning in fire of lust lit by a woman make me an iron to be strong to serve and worship you forevermore. I pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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.