Things to do in the heart of the forest
Inspired by “Things to Do in the Belly of the Whale” by Dan Albergotti
Walk. Stand. Stare. Sit. Count the flowers. Count tree rings. Spot bugs.
Smell the air. Hear the creek. Squint your eyes. Feel the
breeze. Stay quiet. Stay very, very quiet. Watch the squirrel scale the tree. Remember the past. Imagine the future. Doubt yourself. Find yourself. Pray to god you see another tomorrow. Pray it is just as sweet as today. See the sun set. Know it will return. Watch the fireflies. Catch one. Feel it crawl. It is not so different from you. Nothing is too different from you. Lie down. Feel the grass and the earth hold you. It loves you. Whisper to the trees. The trees whisper back. Become small. Become large. Know that the forest does not ask for anything. Know that it only wants you to stay.
ABOUT CHIMEZIE UMEOKA
Chimezie Umeoka is a writer from Nigeria. He has appeared or has work forthcoming in journals including Lolwe, PRISM International, Brittle Paper, Afrocritik and The Journal of African Youth Literature. An English and Literary Studies major at the University of Nigeria, he has been a custodian of The Writers’ Community in the university campus and has edited the first student journal in West Africa, The Muse Journal.