POETRY: Hunger is an Angry Thing

The other day Oma was peeing blood

Crimson rivulets streaming

Down the cement into the latrine

I knew because she showed me

She said, Mama, mama and she was quiet

What is the essence of dying?

Who gets to live off our suffering?

Do not make room for an unwanted guest

Lest he become an intruder

Don’t let him stay the night

Or he brings others- sickness, Pain, and Death

And your house collapses

And everything you have is gone

Hunger is an angry thing

It devours everything in its path

My Oma left today

I held her cold body to my thin chest

Caressed the tufts of yellow hair on her swollen head

I laid her near her brothers

I twist the rope in my hands

Obiageli! – a familiar voice

I turn to the empty house- no one

I walk ahead, lifting my eyes to see
At last, a tall tree

A relief