Play & Book Excerpts
To Be Wide Eyed
(Independently Published)
© 2020 Davida Eyam-Ozung
E Go Better
By Davida Eyam-Ozung She grew up in a wondrous place, Where smiles danced on each person’s face. Each day they worked from dusk till dawn, Though where they lay not soft as lawn. The crinkles by their lips and eyes, And curves engraved by hearty smiles, Were battle wounds from long fought wars, Against life’s tries to break their cores. They wore their laughter as a shield, And in resilience, their arrows, sealed. They used their teeth to load their guns, And fired shots, one by one. And even on life’s battlefield, When beaten down in pools of blood, The one thing they made sure to know, Was they would always stay afloat. One must get up, For there is hope. That hope is lost, is but a fable. There is something quite remarkable, About the ones who choose to smile, Despite life’s relentless attempts, To make them cry. E go better - It will get better |
Sweaty Palms
By Davida Eyam-Ozung It marched its way around my head, And though it never went to rest, It took my mind for its own bed, And built with twigs of fear, a nest, And when I met with people’s eyes, There came the nervous ticks and smiles. And when I opened up to speak, There came a sound so strange and weak. It took my strands of hair as reins, To put a puppet-show on stage, And I became involved, engaged, With hiding out in safe terrains. This thing of fear became a bore, And thus, commenced a tug of war. I tried to pull the strings, From its unrelenting grip, But all my efforts were in vain, I lay entangled, head to hip. And soon it was made known to me, I did not have capacity, No matter how much strength I feigned, To end its reign, nor make it fade. And then I looked to Him, who had, The strength and power to repair. To Him, I gave those lingering fears, The sweaty palms and nervous glares. And so, they all became to me, A mere facade, He made me free. |
Seeds of Change
By Davida Eyam-Ozung Watch the seeds of change, Watch them as they grow, Till the earth with your bones, And water it with your sweat, Crave the nectar from its fruit, And peel away its shiny skin, Tear apart its meaty flesh, Let its juices quench your thirst, Climb upon its sturdy tree, Blend its bark and leaves, Smooth their mix into your skin, And use its sap to wash your hair. Watch the seeds of change, Reap their yield, when left to grow. |
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Davida Eyam-Ozung is a 21-year-old Nigerian writer whose first published work is an autobiographical collection of poetry titled To Be Wide-Eyed. She relocated several times during her high school years - from her home country, Nigeria, to Singapore and, most recently, to the United States.
In May 2020, Davida graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. During her college years, she satisfied her love for writing by interning with the region’s local newspaper, the Finger Lakes Times. She also interned with Verve Magazine (Auckland, New Zealand) during a semester-long study abroad program. The poems in To Be Wide-Eyed are Davida’s reflections of her relatively nomadic life. The chronological poems come together to tell the story of how her experiences living in different parts of the world have shaped and developed her world view and personal philosophy. Her works also delve into social commentary, driven by her passion for social justice. She hopes that her words make people conscious of their capacity to catalyze positive change. Future plans… Davida plans to continue using her writing to inspire others to appreciate life for its beauty, vulnerability and uncertainty. |