there are moments held with clarity – a boy whose
branches fall off before leaves begin to sprout – they say
the brain forgets what longing is – a boy with the dreams of
a father begging for alms under the rain – & the heart does
the tedious work of beating them into being – shapes them as
trees with deep roots somewhere – this is why the heart beats:
why the earth has a night sky with open wounds
why eyes lock with things the heart beats for
why rivers are the colour of beds underneath
& why there are no sins named by the heart.
Precious Okpechi is a 20-year-old Nigerian. He studies Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. His works have appeared or are forthcoming in Brittle Paper, Nthanda Review, Eunoia Review, Praxis Magazine. He is currently the Custodian of The Writers Community, UNN – a small community of writers in Nsukka.
