The Thudding Obelisk

From the opulent shores of the Nile
to the warm savannahs of the Serengeti,
tales of her strife and sacrifices span centuries,
revealing all her numerous struggles and triumphs.

she carries the weight of history
on her slant and subtle shoulders.
the many scars on her thick skin
are the trophies she got from protecting her kind
storytellers will forever speak of her unmatched resilience.

on terrifying days, she sings songs of grief
songs that echo through the ears of her cruel lover
this was the same reason her mother bemoaned,
swearing to shield her from the vileness of dependency

she also sings victory songs on good days
songs of joy, love, and collective abundance.
her resonating voice inspires all women
to rise and occupy their rightful place

she is the bearer of nations
the pillar of her community
the pride and hope of her people
whose beauty and grace cannot be tamed

her bloodline journeys from the ancient queens of Ethiopia
to the famed Agojie warriors of the Dahomey kingdom
her legacy is one of courage, love, and power
while her substance is worth more than money and trinkets

she is a Pan-African deity
whose spirit cannot be tamed
whose voice cannot be muffled
she is the home of the African continent.

The Throbbing Price of Excellence

the path to mastery is tiled with pain,
each step forward, a battle hard-won.
blisters form and calluses thicken the skin,
as we push past the limits of what’s been done.
the easy route holds no lasting gain,
true mastery is earned through effort and sacrifice.

we toil in solitude, our hands rough and worn,
muscles start aching from endless repetition.
doubt creeps in like a nagging thorn,
“is this worth it? can I succeed in this?”
but we press on, our resolve reborn,
for greatness is born of sheer reiteration.

the critics jeer, their words like hard punches,
pouncing on our confidence, our sense of worth.
“you’ll never make it, you’ll never outdo
the mediocrity in your family lineage.”
we grit our teeth but refuse to let fear amass
any power over us or restrain our wings.

amid the tears, isolation, and betrayals, we persevere,
annealed by the furnace of our tenacity.
each setback, each obstacle, will eventually be purged,
refining us into something tougher with firmness.
the hurt becomes our teacher, our guide,
until the peak of excellence, we have finally scaled.

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Christian Emecheta loves to tell stories that resonate with readers. With a knack for vivid details and relatable characters, he aims to create narratives that stay with you long after you finish reading.