Anger
[ Nana T. Baffour-Awuah ]

Anger

Who taught you that your anger is a vice?
A taboo to
shun
shame
shirk

into a tight knot and push down to the back of your throat and swallow
again, and again, and again, until it is choking and scorching you from the inside.

Do you not know it comes at a price?
Your sanity
and sanctity 
cleaved away
every time
you tie your tongue
and void your voice
and vilify your values for making you feel.

What if I told you, it is a guardian?
Lightning that strikes
again, and again, and again
summoning a holy lance
that flares and flings 
from the precious places
where you are closest to your grief.

shrink

Nana T. Baffour-Awuah (he/him) is a Ghanaian writer currently based in New York. His writings have been published by The Universes Poetry Journal, Hudson Valley Writers Guild, Viridine Literary, African Writer Magazine, HuffPost, The Good Men Project, and more. His poem, “Kradin”, was recently selected for publication in the inaugural anthology of Arcana Poetry Press. Nana is working on his first novel. IG: @whatnanawrote