listen, this poem reminds me of beautiful things.
beautiful things that abode in this country,
despite its striving grief. from the undulating hills
of Obanliku, adjoining each other like playful kids
locking arms to the many mountains that stood out
like a sea of heads in the Mambilla plateau. from
the grassy flatlands in Katsina that strain your
eyes to keep looking until all you see is the blue
& white sky kissing the Earth in harmonious
bliss to the damp saltiness that hovers above
impenetrable visible roots of creeks in the Niger Delta.
from the doting eyes on the Zuma rock that bid you
welcome to the Olumo rock whose bald hair glistens
from the sun's ray. these things would take your
breath away. i should stop here, but I'm reminded
of the mandrills & chimpanzees playing hide-and-seek
in the forest of Okwangwo. or the sound of fluttering
leaves & gurgling streams serenading the Owo or Udi.
the Iroko & Mahogany in Okomu dance to the flute
of the wind, but still refuse to bow when the show
is over. this is not arrogance, but resilience. the
same resilient spirit of any Nigerian. here, an
Anambra waxbill singing choruses in the sky or an
African mouse's roof beneath the soil means this
place belongs to us all. & i am in love with
all of it.
Solomon Idah Hamza’s poem was commended in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He won the Ngiga Prize for Humour Writing 2025 and Afristories Prize for Horror Flash 2022. He was shortlisted for the Enugu Literary Society 2024 and was longlisted for the Kikwetu Flash Fiction 2023. He has been published in Brittle Paper, Salamander Ink Magazine, Isele Magazine, Olney magazine, RoadRunner Review, Shallow Tales Review, Illino Media, Agbowo, Kalahari Review, Afritondo and elsewhere.
From the Manuscript of Soil Unfurling from Stem
This Month's Featured Poet
Solomon Hamza
Column Manned By Osahon Oka
Please submit a poem from your pamphlet or chapbook or a previously unpublished poem not exceeding forty lines, for consideration. The link only lives for a month, following which you are free to resubmit your poem elsewhere. I do not pay for published work.
After subscribing, kindly upload your poem via the linked form or email to: osasonyevokebenoka@gmail.com with recent passport-sized photo.
About Penned in Rage Journal
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Penned in Rage magazine is focused on publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, flash fiction, experimental prose and hybrid works, written by underrepresented writers.​ Each quarter a submission is chosen as the featured piece. The journal aims to create a community of subscribed readers who enjoy contemporary creative writing styles. Penned in Rage invites submissions from underrepresented and marginalised writers.
SUBMIT a Poem, Flash Fiction or Essay - Only One Submission Allowed Per Person Each Quarter, Thank You.
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Email Submissions from January 1st - 31st to:
Please Address Your Submission to The Editor of Penned in Rage, Chukwuebuka Onyishi
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Submit Online: Link
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​​​About Penned in Rage Journal
​
Penned in Rage magazine is focused on publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, flash fiction, experimental prose and hybrid works, written by underrepresented writers.​ Each quarter a submission is chosen as the featured piece. The journal aims to create a community of subscribed readers who enjoy contemporary creative writing styles. Penned in Rage invites submissions from underrepresented and marginalised writers.
​
Submissions: Closed until January 2026
The 'unthemed' submission window will reopen THURSDAY 01 JANUARY 2026 for the third online edition of Penned in Rage Literary Journal.
CLOSES 31 JANUARY 2026.
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How to Submit
This Journal Only Features Writers from Sub-Saharan Africa; its Diaspora & Ethnic Minorities.
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​​​​​Submissions: You may submit a 40-line poem for consideration. Styles accepted: free verse, haiku, Fibonacci, prose et cetera preferred over meters. Maximum lines 40. Flash Story - maximum 500 words; Fiction. Nonfiction and Non-academic essays accepted. We do not publish metered poetry of any shape or form, neither do we accept anything that offends other social groups. Flash fiction not exceeding 500 words on any genre or topic may be submitted, as may non-academic essays or creative nonfiction not above 500 words. Underrepresented writers from anywhere may submit a poem or flash fiction for consideration. We only consider submissions sent through our online submission portal https://www.ellaspoems.com/#subscribe-to-penned-in-rage-journal or by email. Please provide a brief 30-word third-person bio to accompany your submission. Only one poem not exceeding 40 lines and/or one story of not above 500 words will be considered.
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Simultaneous Submissions & Withdrawals: We accept simultaneous submissions, but we must be immediately notified if a piece is accepted elsewhere. If you wish to withdraw your submission, please email me directly at pennedinrage@outlook.com with the title/s of the work(s) you are withdrawing.
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Previously Published Work: Except for The Friday Poem, https://ellaspoems.com/#the-friday-poem we will not publish pieces which have appeared elsewhere, including social media sites.
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Publishing Rights: We ask for first time worldwide rights for accepted pieces. Following publication, all rights revert back to the author.
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Payment: Penned in Rage Journal was borne out of a small, self-funded project. At this time, we are not able to offer payment to our contributors for published works; however, the PDF version of the journal is widely circulated and published writers are promoted on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
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How is the journal published?
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Triannual Online Publication - Downloadable PDF January, April, August