Chinemerem Prince's Shortlisted Poem, 'Ritual of Becoming'

"Ritual of Becoming is a poem with rich language and intricate imagery" —Pawners Paper

"Ritual of Becoming is a poem with rich language and intricate imagery"

—Pawners Paper

RITUAL OF BECOMING 

is baptism.

& rivulet of grief breaks,

pouring into deep waters. 

you naked & bare, flesh & spirit

steeping & sousing into homage(s). 

for old sores & scratches 

creaking the mirror of light. 

it is baptism. 

body, penitent & apparel white. 

before the priest, bent & buried,

you swoon in mid-water.

  — dredging out, as deliberate as sifting

through scars & birthing a bland skin. 

you desired to illume like the glitters 

of fresh dawn. & exfoliate like the skins of 

bedewed roses. bet grief reveals, reveling

the dance of longing. & water immerses a body

dripping, drenching in light. & light purging

itself of bravery. you distant your poem from

chiming dim. hollering dark. & singing blue. 

yet you buzzed in your spirit & never spiraled

into new beginnings. & today, you rustle like the  

pages of old-stricken memories. & the old stenches

of grief. God, again, bear this body before this deep,

naked & bare doused in living water, dewing for dawn.

About The Poet

Chinemerem Prince Nwankwo, is currently a final year student of the Department of History and International Studies, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He was shortlisted for the Sevhage-KSR Hyginus Ekwuazi Poetry Prize, 2023 and was placed as the Second Runner Up, SprinNG Annual Poetry Prize, 2023. He is the Poetry Editor, The Cloudscent Journal and the Assistant Poetry Editor, Arkore Arts. He loves to read and write about Africa, Women, and Children.

If not writing from the solemn corners of his room, he enjoys prayer walking in the cool of the evening, watching and critiquing movies, and enjoying the fun sights of travel.

He tweets @ CP Nwankwo.

INTALK CONVERSATION: Chinemerem Prince Nwankwo Offers an Intriguing Insight into Poetry

Photo Credit: Pexel