UNSPOKEN.
I taught her everything she knows. I led her by the hand and protected her from woes. She is my kid sister and her name is Ndidi. We are just two years apart so she was the thorn on my flesh and the smile on my lips. We were inseparable. Two of a kind.
I guided her through secondary school and protected her from bullies, I still was there for her through our University days . I was there to glue the broken pieces of her heart when jidenna torn the veil of her innocence. I was body shield, protecting her from pits else she breaks her spine.
The bond of sisterhood is the strongest bond of all. The love between sisters is the purest love of all. And that's why, all I felt was undiluted joy when Ndidi informed me that Donald had proposed.
I wanted my sister to have the best and Donald was the definition of true masculinity, he is a bundle of compassion, a gentleman of breeding and a successful entrepreneur.
Our mother was proud, "Ndidi, nwa m, you caught a big fish", mum would say, grinning from Chin to chin.
The introduction had barely occurred when my boat began to rock. I did not understand that I had disrupted an agelong tradition of sisterhood. I didn't know that I had broken the unspoken code of culture.
It was exactly two weeks to Ndidi's wedding, I had already outdone myself, helping run around for the logistics and preparation,Ndidi had asked me to be her chief bride's maid, when mum and her two friends, mummy uju and aunty Gertrude called me into mama's bedroom. I had sat in their midst, wondering what I had done to warrant this sermon and watchful stares.
It was mummy uju that broke the ice, the plump woman with hawk like eyes. "Adaora , I wekwara ifere? Do you not have shame?",
The question ran in rhetorics while I was sinking in confusion.
"Do you not have brains, aunty Gertrude asked.
" what have I done wrong, aunt, I asked,i was watching them intently, my mother was silent, her face downcast, as she raised it and stared at me squarely in the eyes
How old are you, Adaora? My mother asked.
"25,mum", i said reluctantly, for I knew that she knows the day she had borne me.
"How old is Ndidi? ",
" Ndidi is 23", i replied.
"Ndidi is 23,your younger sister and she is getting married and you are happily parading yourself as her chief bridesmaid", Aunty Gertrude said gauntly.
Oh I see, this is where this is going? I thought.
''Ibu nna GA alu eh, Adaora? You have been trained through school, one is to expect that you are of both sound intellect and good reasoning yet...
Children of these days lack ako na uche, no thinking faculty at all. Adaora, I got married at the age of 18, and before I was 23,i had already given birth to you and your sister. Kedu ife I na eche? What are you waiting for? ", mother said
My ears were throbbing, my eyes were hurting, their words were daggers piercing my soul.
Oh I am now a failure, a disappointment. I am shameless for celebrating with Ndidi. Life isn't a race, I thought, but the more I thought that the more the battle raged in my heart, Ndidi was doing better than me, things began to stare at my face, she has always been prettier than me, boys had always desired her more, as these unholy thoughts roams free in my mind, the seed they had sown began to bloom against the resistance of my will, against my purest intention, against the love I have for Ndidi.
My life is miserable, if truth be said, I thought. I am dating a guy who is still looking for job, four years after school, I am the one who usually gives him money and encourages him to stand firm. Isn't that what love is about, support, commitment loyalty?
Why then does mum give Ndidi's suitor the warmest treatment but gives a cold shoulder to my man. All the clues I had missed came staring at my face, like the missing point in a map connecting, like a puzzle revealing itself , I felt nauseating.
I hated aunty Gertrude, I hated mama uju, I hated mother. I felt dumb and clueless for not seeing all these pointers.
Am lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, fighting hard to hold the tears back, Ndidi bounces in, in her usual boisterous manner..
"Adaora ! ", she called" look, what my baby sent me",
Parading in my face a bunch of beautiful roses.
"Get out, I said, my voice cracking like a dry fig burning in harmattan. Ndidi was shocked.. "Ada what's wrong?",.
Her face concerned, her eyes shining in love.
This is my sister, I thought. But as I look at her my heart hardened. In her, I see an enemy. A vampire sucking my joy. The seed that mother had planted, had become a tree.
With love,
Chioma Ngaikedi

Everything thing good will come

#memories I just remembered the blackberry frenzy. The desperation to own the BB, If you had it, you were the biggest thing on campus. And so many did the unmentionables just to own the phone. i was mocked by my friends for not owning one, that by the time, I had saved up for it, it was almost out of trend, yet, I was still super excited with the thrill of owning a bb, that I forgot to remove my atm card after withdrawing the money in my haste to make the purchase.. Lol.
Trend will come, trend will go. Remember when Mercedes 230 and Peugeot 504 was on point, Alot of men may have used their mama for blood money, just for a fleeting desire.
Do not be overly bothered with what you have and what you have not, be more concerned about the content of your character.. Have you developed your mental capacity or have you been only interested in your classy clothes,wristwatch and gadgets
Invest in things that can never lose value and at the long run will bring you wealth. Ifeoma adi agwu agwu.. Good things never finish. Better things go come! Especially when you are flowing with the flow of heavenly grace.
#patience...
#invest in you...
#lines will fall into pleasant places

With love,
Chioma Ngaikedi.

Lovely imagery and great twist. Nice one. I love it

The rich pays for grade
The poor prays for grace


I really enjoyed your poem. You are gifted. I enjoyed your creative use of punchlines. Keep your flag flying

MEMORY
BY CHIOMA NGAIKEDI.

Fleeting, bruising, enlightening
These images sparkles like the starlight
Sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter
Like a flute that plays in tones of deeds long done.



The sacrilege of taboo broken
The agony of principles crushed
The joy of ghostly memories
Hunts my tender days.



I walk between two worlds
Of calm and chaos
Like a boat upon a turbulent sea
My soul wanders
My mind leaps into freedom
Violating the boundaries of of chain.

llaykorn:
This is a very beautiful poem, ngaz. You just made me see these resolutions in a completely different way.

'You will conquer your goals
If your focus can burn your fears'.

These lines are a beautiful quote.

This looks like the most beautiful stanza from your poem. You missed a word in the fourth line, though.

The sweetness of the honeycomb dares my spirit,
The vigour of the swarming bees scares my soul,
But for the taste of honey,
The must Forge forward,
Defiling the stings of the bees,
And claiming the prize.
The intensity of focus breaks barriers

Thanks for sharing this, ngaz.

thanks dear for the comment, this is the first comment on my poem outside the usual applause of my family. Wink. Thanks, really.

Never has a day been celebrated like this,
The birth of a new day,
The expectations of a new hope,
The world roars in joy,
The applause shakes its pillars.




The new year comes with new dreams,
The ladder is set and all seek to climb,
Resolutions are made,
The heart of men is beating
Like a drum by eager hands of a drunk.




The mystic mist is in the air,
The season's bug is flying about,
Enticing followers to the temple's abode,
Goals are set,
Goals will be broken.
The race has begun,
The weak will fall off the race.





This is a battle of warriors,
With resolution craved on the rock,
Passion fuels by determination,
Courage subdued the fear of uncertainty,
Setting a stage for heros to dine.




The sweetness of the honeycomb dares my spirit,
The vigour of the swarming bees scares my soul,
But for the taste of honey,
The warrior must Forge forward,
Defiling the stings of the bees,
And claiming the prize.




The intensity of focus breaks barriers,
Men have conquered the sea,
Men have broken the wind,
Men have dominated the land,
You will conquer your goals
If your focus can burn your fears.




2016 will begin with a new song,
You will behold the glory of your visions,
Passion and determination will oil your engine,
The joys of conquering will burn in your heart,
2016 will end with your prize in your palms.
Poem written by... Chioma Miriam Ngaikedi

Well spoken. My favorite poem so far. You are hugely talented

Nice humour

This is simply astonishing, incase the maiden whom who seek turns her back. I will be your cleo , your damsel with the blood of isis. Lol. Just enjoying your poem jare

Nice one. Artistic