Sometimes no is not enough

even

when it is said firmly

Sometimes no is not enough

especially when

a broken man

holds a knife to your throat

not when

he uses the knife from

YOUR kitchen

to threaten you into

undressing fearfully

in. your. own. house

Sometimes no is not enough

especially

when a man’s genitals

are already laced

with the brokeness

of the several “no’s”

of his upbringing

Sometimes no is not enough

but is instead

a call for war

Sometimes no is not enough

is not enough

is not enough

but

still

no   means    no

means no

MEANS NO

Bio: Angel Nduka-Nwosu is a poet and writer who was born in Lagos, Nigeria. A Feminist and Pan-Africanist, she was the recipient of the Best Position Paper at the African Leadership Academy Model African Union 2015. She was also recently awarded the Best Spoken Word Artist at the Nigerian Teen Choice Awards 2017. Her poem “Benediction” which covers rape culture and consent was a part of the top 100 poems selected for the Poets in Nigeria Undergraduate Prize 2017. At present, she is an English Major at Babcock University and also a regular contributor to the online blogs The Audiri and The Perspective Movement.