Chidinma Opaigbeogu

A Love Letter as It Comes to My Head - Honorable Mention (Undergraduate)

Steam rises, clumps of malted milk cling to the rim of one
of your mugs. You drink fast, dreading to share with anyone.

A bowl of ataúlfos on the table between us, drips of
honey on your shirt as you slurp the unripe skin of one.

At the beach, all I recall is this: sediment under
my nails, scratch of salt on our palms, my hand in your cold one.

You still cry when you dream about your family. My own
face, damp with our collected tears, I lay awake at one.

Flames dance on coconut candles. The charred wicks color
the wax- a terrible, black slough melting into one.

Do not swallow this letter after it’s written, bring your
lips to the pulse, Chi and do not let your mouth quiver.