God's Children Are Little Broken, Imperfect Things Slipping Into Oblivion by Testimony Odey

The Rising Phoenix Review

March 31

God's Children Are Little Broken, Imperfect Things Slipping Into Oblivion

God's children are little broken things & i am one of them
when I asked God why my aunty is now one with red soil, He sang soothing blues
which only increased the anxiety & depression swimming in my soul.
to wear my grief with peace, i respire to inspire all day long.
so, people look at me & out of clay, they dig out a crown for me
a crown that says i am an inspiration to them with perfection as my last name
and i do not know how to tell them i am tired of respiring to inspire.

God's children are little imperfect things & i am one of them
sitting all day & admiring other imperfect things, which i have painted in my mind to be perfect.
God's children are trying to live this life while pursuing happiness and peace,
knowing that it will fade away when the end comes six feet under.
God's children are trying to find a safe place to stay, because the bullets of this world always stray
until nothing is left but butterflies with broken wings.
tonight, i whisper to the Lord: may my brothers and sisters not become tragic tales
for we are already little broken, imperfect things slipping into oblivion.

by Testimony Odey

Biography:

Testimony Odey is a Nigerian storyteller, YouTuber, and author of two award-winning novels. Her short story, 'My Juicy Life,' won the inaugural African Teen Writers Awards and her poem was longlisted and shortlisted for the global Writing Ukraine Prize (2023). Her work has been published on magazines and journals such as Brittle Paper, Paper Lanterns, Tilted House Review, Fiction Attic Press, Kepressng Anthologies, and elsewhere. Currently a fiction editor at Northern Writers Forum (NWF) Journal, she keeps her eyes open for bold and beautiful stories. You can find her on social media @testimonyodey and check out her website: https://linktr.ee/Testimony_Odey.