Exorcism
A morning breaks into my body
And the bird in it escapes into space
I’m merely a tote of years,
Counting and recounting memories
Like yams in the barn which
Beetles have beaten into rot.
I’m something made out of letters,
And I have in my pocket a packet of the past.
In it are matchsticks so that
When night creeps in
I can light
But it’s not the darkness I burn
It’s me
I burn
I tell you
You enter
Like a shot in the head
I’m unknotted
Lord,this legion of memories
Is gnawing at me.
Who’d cast it out?
Who’d fill the hole?
Contributor’s Bio
Olusoji Obebe is an emerging Nigerian poet, essayist and fiction writer. He writes from Ondo State, Nigeria. His essays have made the longlist of the African Human Right Essay Competition 2021, the Sixth Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology and the Libretto African Anthology Prize 2022. His works are featured/forthcoming in Fiery Scribe Review, Nnoko Stories, Terror House Magazine, FIFWA Bi-Annual Anthology, Voice of Peace International Poetry/Short Story Anthology, etc. Also, he has a short story in the oncoming “Nightshade: Profwic Crime Fiction Anthology Volume 1” set to be released by Ifeadigo Publishing Company on the 6th May, 2022. Facebook: Olusoji Obebe Twitter @olusoji_obebe Instagram @olusojiobebe
