Just Another Song

I want to know what you’re writing I want to know if it’s about me  I need to know if you’ve thought the way I do  I want to know how often and what it is  What it is you think about  What did I...

Joe

Sometimes I think my days away without you what would I do  Sometimes I feel like the world says you have to be alone to be strong  I think they’re wrong  Because your sole makes me feel like...

Dry Throat

  My heart hasn’t beat like this for so long My mouth hasn’t been this dry in forever  That same feeling in the back of my throat I used to have everyday  It’s surprising to me that I feel...

Dead Super Hero

  It started as pinches, the type that made your neighbours run to the wall, to hear his words tingle – pins. You noticed, as you walked the street, neighbours whispered, “see where he...

The Hand that Fed Him

Efe bit the hand that fed him. The fingers cried – pitiable waah! The thumb watched in awe. But Efe showed no remorse. He would still carry his shoulder, like one who hides a boil in his...

What Could Be Wrong with the Right?

In my own right I’ll say Julie was not always right For she would think her left was the right But her right wasn’t the right, but the left Twas hard to tell her That the right was...

Childhood

  We frolicked, hide and seek before twilight stole our sight The hairy village market was our maze, thick, tall and tangling Over the hill that drowned our houses, we wheeled...

The Uncouth Fling

  You still remember? That noteworthy December When flakes of snow coated our legs Frigid, yet we damned the regs. Stuffed in the unclothed diary An artifact that archived your fiery Our...

Amaka

Look at us. Amaka, just look at us. The rocks are broken; the spring is dying. We no longer care. The way a hen spread her wings around her chickens, that was how I once shielded you from hate....

Nampang

Nampang, she remembered it all, the way a river remembers how to run. A long time ago, say when she was twelve, she joined the chase. When the rooster crowed, it meant two things. One, it was...

Lost

Flame

Light House

To Love or Not to Love

I am a cosmic green That hangs above your sky Chunky tar Bloated to the brim Unavoidable quiescent Spreading warmth to your ice I indulge We live This is how to love -selfless Your desires are...

My Other Love

“It is over between you and me. I can’t take this no more.” It is crunch time. Enough is enough. I maintain a steady gaze. My eyes are red. If that is what they mean by fire in...

Wondering of Thoughts

My thoughts are scattered pieces broken into curves and dots, and spikes too — touchy irritants. They wander in the marble of blue. Sometimes they are pebbles dangling in the dark depth of gloom...

My Childhood Died

The morning dews Have become black tars Spewing holy smoke The trees that danced to the twirl of bliss Have been displaced by rigid towers The songs of the birds Have become distorted songs of...

Lost

The faint lines on my palm Whirl in the slow dance of the moon “Shhhhhrrrrrrrr” I was going to become a man Dark was going to turn grey Life was to be yellow lit But mists encroached...

Friends of Falun Gong Poetry Contest

Name: Friends of Falun GongWord count: Up to 2 poems of 50 lines eachEntry fee: NonePrize: 1st- $500, 2nd- $250, 3rd- $100Closing date: April 30, 2019. Friends of Falun Gong have an ongoing...

New Beginnings Short Story Project

Name: New BeginningsWord count: 2500 wordsEntry fee: $17Price: 1st- $5000, 2nd- $1900, 3rd- $950Closing date: January 15, 2019. New Beginnings is accepting submission for fictional short stories....

Sweek Flash Fiction Competition

Name: Sweek Flash Fiction Competition Word count: 250 words Entry fee: free Price: $60 Closing date: April 22nd, 2018. Sweek Flash Fiction Challenge is accepting submission for their micro...

Africa Book Club Short Story Competition

Name: Africa Book Club Short Story Competition Word count: 1,000–3,500 words Entry fee: free Price: $250 Closing date: June 30, 2018. Good news! If you have a story with African context, Africa...

Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2018

Name: Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2018 Word Count: 3000 Prize: £500 Entry Fee: £6 per story Closing Date: February 28, 2018. Exeter Writers Short Story Competition started in 2009 and...

The Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize

Name: The Graywolf Press Nonfiction PrizeWord Count: 25 000 wordsEntry Fee: freePrize: $12,000Closing Date: Today, January 31, 2018 Graywolf wants to reward a promising and innovative writer of...