Eliogema Udofia
Darling, even in the Apocalypse
In the Holy Book, the creation story emanates
from the mouth of an ethereal being— who,
weary of hovering over the surface of the void
that once was this world, speaks everything
into existence—words pouring forth as oceans
as hills, as green vegetation & archipelagos.
In the making of man, he kneels before a heap
of mud, carves a full-fleshed man, & blows
air into him. However ridiculous, this, I think,
is one excellent story—how this being, then
lullabies the man to sleep, & from him, his rib
cage, sculpts out a woman, to be his spouse.
In an unsettling article I read on the internet—
the world is said to either end in the flames
of nukes, or, the blazing fire of anthropogenic
climate collapse. Over the phone, my mom
tells me, it is a fulfillment of the apocalyptic
prophecy:—‘For by His very own words,
the heavens & the earth, are reserved for fire.’
& darling, I have been thinking of what will
become of you—of us—in that pandemonium
of fire—of mother’s searching for their kids,
lovers, calling on each other in that ravenous
burning, & I have not been more convinced.
I’ll find you, in all that mayhem—press you
against this body, rupturing with bronchitis.
In that moment—when you think it is all over,
I’ll be there, to tell you how gorgeous you
are even when you’re in tears. & then weld my
lips into yours, as the fire devours us—
Two lovers, in the little Pompeii of our home.
Bio:
ELIONGEMA UDOFIA is an undergrad student of the University of Uyo, Nigeria. He currently lives in Uyo and is a lover of Dogs and Artworks. He has works published in Brittle Paper, Eboquills, Salamander Ink, Blue Marble Review, African Writer Magazine, Last Stanza Poetry Journal, Afritondo, Muse Journal, and elsewhere. He is the First Place Winner of the IHRAM’S Art of Unity Creative Award (Youth Category) 2023. He tweets @obongemem_001.
