where the rich trample &;
the poor stay trod
underfoot disguised as mercy;
where to look up means
defiance which means a
prayer or a calamity
of a tightened fisticuff
where my father fleed to
&; is still fleeing;
where parties spills into
sidewalks like blood from

an assaulted artery;where
boys become men before
they become boys playing
keep away with women;
where surnames spell distinction
or death; where an
ocean seethes with patience
waiting to noah us
all;

accra; miami; lagos; tokyo;
seoul; dakar;
welcome; which one is
yours?

Anthony Ikeh is a Nigerian writer & self-acclaimed cinephile. His work are on or forthcoming on Brittle Paper, Kalahari Review, The Shallow Tales Review, Yugen Quest Review, Metaworker Literary, Eunoia Review, The B'k Magazine, African Writer Magazine, The Mixtape Review & elsewhere. He tweets @lanalovesbooks0