2004
Here’s a peek into the ever-evolving story of my life, encapsulated in a short but mighty list.
It’s 2004. I’m new to the world but not alone. My twin and I are neatly bundled in pastel cloth, eyes closed. We’re resting gently on Mama’s arms. She’s wide awake, seated, and smiling into the camera. This photograph of her makes me nostalgic for days I can’t remember.
It’s 2020. The spring semester of my freshman year has just begun. I’m weary and ready for summer. Then the world shuts down. Everybody’s sick. The apocalypse has never felt closer.
It’s 2022. New Year’s Day is barely a month away. I’ve just turned eighteen. Suddenly I don’t feel so young anymore.
It’s 2009. We’re making our way upstairs to our microscopic but beloved apartment in the Bronx. We’ve just returned from Nigeria. It feels good to be home again.
It’s 2019. The first day of high school lurks just around the corner. I’m wildly anxious about what the year has in store for me. I bet it will be great.
It’s 2016. Donald Trump is elected president. The apocalypse has never felt closer.
It’s 2023. I submit my last college application to a school miles away from where I call home. I think I might be homesick already.
It’s 2020. I’m on the couch, basking in the August heat. I’m scrolling through the news app on my iPhone when I come across some disturbing news. Chadwick Boseman’s dead. Stage IV colon cancer.
It’s 2014. The Ebola virus breaks out.
It’s 2016. I graduate the 5th grade. Middle school feels like foreign territory.
It’s 2014. Mom buys a new pack of toothbrushes from the local deli. I call dibs on the green one. An argument breaks out.
It’s 2004. I take in the world for the very first time. I think I could get used to this.
Process
This list poem started as a creative writing assignment at school that I wanted to engage with further. I shared the final draft with my mentor, Shanille, who provided helpful suggestions on making the poem feel more complete. After some brainstorming, I made some final touches that gave the poem a cyclical nature which I appreciated. Overall, I loved being able to reflect on different stages of my life through a series of years.
Ifeoma Okwuka
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Ifeoma Okwuka
Ifeoma is a high school junior residing in The Bronx. She has a genuine interest for STEM-related topics and finds immense joy in writing fiction and poetry. At school, she is a member of the World Science Academy club and is a Girls Who Code (Summer Immersion Program) alumna. She is also a proud member of Teens For Press Freedom where she serves on the press team. During her free time, you might catch her reading (sci-fi, poetry or realistic fiction), playing one on one basketball with her twin brother or simply learning random skills on YouTube.
