Nnorom Azuonye

London, UK.

Nnorom Azuonye is a Dramatic Artist, Poet, Short Story writer and Interviewer. He is the Founding Editor of Sentinel Literary Quarterly and Publishing Director, SPM Publications, London. His work has been published widely in international journals and anthologies including African Writer, Agenda, Orbis, Ink Sweat & Tears, World Haiku Review, Drumvoices Revue, Opon Ifa, Flair, and African Writing. His books include Letter to God & Other Poems, The Bridge Selection: Poems for the Road, We Need God in Nigeria Again, Funeral of the Minstrel (a play) and On The Record: Conversations with Writers & Artists (Forthcoming in July 2021, SPM Publications)

Poem written 30 November 2020

Waiting Room

This urgent care centre is low on air.

The little here smells of disinfectant,

witching perfumes, cleaning agents and fear.

There’s no laughter factor hanging out here.

In a time of Coronavirus it is like facing

a firing squad; twenty-something or so

soldiers in death’s army raring to go

with a burst of invisible bullets;

every nostril is a breathing menace,

like the barrel of a machine gun,

every sneeze, every cough can kill.

Everybody is a potential mass murderer.

Everybody is dying from the fear of death.

The doctor will see you now.