What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky

by Lesley Nneka Arimah

the unmarried women strap on their weaponry (winsome smiles, robust cleavage, accommodating personalities) and go to war over him.

he did not know what the world did to daughters. He did not know how quickly it would wick the dew off her, how she would be returned to him hollowed out, relieved of her better parts.

there is this thing that distance does where it subtracts warmth and context and history and each finds that they’re arguing with a stranger.

Before she quiets in a country that rewards her brand of boldness, in her black of body, with an incredulous fascination that makes her put it away.

If she was to mother a child, to mute and subdue and fold away parts of herself, the child had to be perfect.

If Ogechi’s mother had seen the child, she would have laughed at how ridiculous such a baby would be, what constant coddling she would need. It would never occur to her that mud daughters needed coddling, too.

The problem with those who don’t know real power is that they do not know real power.

The weight of all I wanted to tell her sat in my mouth and stilled my tongue.