To
rhythm, my hips I sway
I order one drink
A pint and another
Then more
In the arms of
another, I lie
In the shower with a
stranger, I splash
Then sneeze
At a conference
A paper, I present
Accolades, I receive
as though souvenirs
With handshakes upon handshakes
Hugs upon hugs
Then I sneeze
Aboard I take some
meds
Take a nap
And struggle with
another sneeze
And yet another
sneeze, cough and fever
Blanket wrapped,
I doze off
Finally, back to
Nigeria
My home
My heritage
Through swab tests
was I welcomed
To exile was I sent
away from comfort
Now home at last
With family and
friends all distant
As though I were a
plague
“I tested negative”,
I cry out
But no one seems to
believe me
A cold was all I
caught
Even so
I’m made to feel
distraught
This stigma I can
bear no more
For my breath
On a noose, I’ll take