Arrogance is a part of me
I don't like.

Chief Udoh
Is a titled man
Silkier smoother than the moon
Fairer skin as the suns
And more hands-on than the seven seas.
He owns hundred wives
And three hundred children
With thousands of grandchildren
Manier than the stars,
Breed and unbreed.


Chief Udoh
Took wives each year
From eevery Omuma clans
During the Ugwu festivals
The beauties of beauties
And the liliest of lillies.
Or so we thought
Until he chose me
I, who was the ugliest of ugliess
For I showcased a scar of burnt oil
Mapped triumphantly on my right visage.

News spread like wide fire
Mama danced
Father was elated
Grandma, who had never liked me
For she thought me to be an Ogbanje
was delighted on my account.
I shrugged my feet
I bit my lips
And I...