It’s always amusing to me
When in the midst of a White Sea
I see one Black face
And when he or she sees me
They seem to panic visibly
And avert their face
Avoiding eye contact completely
And seem to be begging me
Not to look at their face
Immersed in their White company
Proving hard to them their loyalty.
To save their face
After looking at them thoughtfully
For a while, I walk past them gently
With a calm face
Because we don’t altercate publicly
We will do that when next we see
Face to face.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river