H O W A R D   U N I V E R S I T Y

Faces & Voices 5
An Anthology
of Verse and Prose
by
the Composition
for Honours Class,
Howard University,
2000-2001.

Professor
E. R. BRAITHWAITE

 

Faces & Voices 4
 Art@Howard

 

    

Reneging
By Ongisa Ichile

  
    
Second-guessing is a 
Sin and a-shame(d) and is
An especially heinous
Heinous crime against self.

Back-burnered you
Left you in my dust
Face down
Perhaps this is the reason

I took you back.
Sweet surrender is a 
Bitch named Passion
And I messed up

Second-guessing me?
Psychic, intuitive me?
Felt your flaws 
Raging through me as if my own

I own the fault
Went against my gut (feelings)
Blame is mine
For overlooking- couldn’t see with you
Face down
That scar under your right eye.

© 2001 Ongisa Ichile

© 2001 Howard University. H. Patrick Swygert, President
(First Published in limited print edition, An Anthology of Verse and Prose, by the Composition for Honours Class, Howard University, Spring 2001. Professor E.R. Braithwaite)
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