excerpts from Chris Abani’s “The Face” — Reality is held in Igba Iwa,
the calabash of existence
an unbroken chain of purpose stretching
the way light shimmers through the water calmness, serenity, sensitivity, insight,
inspiration — a river,
ugwu bu nkwanye nkwanye — respect is reciprocal
maternal grandmother’s lineage was Strong,
traditional culture
from Oxford
no less …