ABASIAMA UDOM - POEMS

​Abasiama Udom is a Poet and Writer with words scattered all over including at Rigorous Magazine and U-rights Magazine.
She lives in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria with her family (parents and annoying brother), educating herself on life and human nature also finding the time to sleep, dance or watch football.

Friends, not needed.
​

​I have no friends, how glad I am
for friendship requires work to work
and sacrifices yet untold.
I have acquaintances passing like ship on voyage,
horning, tooting each other as we go
never stopping for a chart.
I have acquaintances much
and no friend I have to bother my heart,
to require my love, to want my trust and faith.
Many I know, none to be friend 'Enyi' 'Ufan'
I like it so.
Only in my day of need, no friend to hold, no hand to guide
where would I plead my comfort
now, I will spend my days in quiet.
 
 
 
 
** Enyi is Igbo for friend
**Ufan is Efik/Ibibio for friend
(Both are Nigerian Languages)
 
 

 

ASHOEBI
​

​All you need I will tell:
All you need is information
from one friend who is a friend
of another friend and best friend to another.
All you need is knowledge
of a date and time plus venue.
All you need is a friend,
who is a witch wielding wands
to set your face and hair
that is all you need.
Yes for a wedding in my place.
No one will ever ask
if the invite reached you
what are neighbours for?
For we are all sisters on a journey
brothers adjacent each other -
family by blood and food.
All you need is a group of willing ballers
ready to call the photographer ten times.
All you need is a nice gown
or a skirt with patterns;
all you need is your shoe,
a pointing heel or a flat who cares?
If it's a Nigerian wedding,
All you need is Ashoebi.
Forget the invite.
 
 

Loud women.
​

​With hoops dangling for all the world to see
and colors to clash and show,
they take the streets unabashed in stilettos high, raised
 
calling the colours of the rainbow, even beside their hands
covered in wheels of pattern,
see loud women take the streets, littering laughter with each step.
 
For never had time felt so near or mother's suckled children in glory.
Loud women ruling the world,
mouths covered in various affairs,
sniffing and sniffing tho find your weakness.
 
They colour your street, the world is vibrant and fresh
for the rainbow is happy and out to play.