Red roses, Red Christmas (an immigrant's documentary) - fiction

 “I shall pass” 

that was the last line of the poem the lanky latin guy in a red jacket read. His hands twitched on the microphone’s stand like he meant every single breath in those words. He tapped repeatedly with his shoes on the red carpet. The carpet was dusty, I saw it puff brown wipsy slingshots under his shoes. He stopped reading, the audience clapped. I only bit the edge of my lips, stunned by the bold expression of extreme sorrow on his face which the audience didn't see or refused to see. He dropped his head to the side smiling like an actor forced to act a script. I picked my red Christmas hat and exit through the back door of the auditorium. A young lady called out to me when I was a few meters out. I looked back turning only my head, the rest of my body wanted to go somewhere else. Where? I didn't know. She came holding a few copies of a book in her hands. “Merry Christmas" she said smiling. At sight, I found her energy too appeasing. She came close, her eyeliner quite bold and fitting for her face. “Merry Christmas” I replied returning her smile although half heartedly. As she stretched the books in her hand to me the light reflecting on her bracelet made me notice the big cross attached to the oversized bracelet on her wrist. She gestured for me to pick, I picked one of the copies, it was a poetry collection titled “Santa's hat covers his smile“ I remembered the latin poet. The title was true, nostalgic. She turned to leave “how much ?” I quickly asked. "It's free” she eased between her smiles while giving to me a plastic red rose she brought out of her back pocket. "Thank you” I said and she waved. I walked briskly away holding the book with all gratitude. Some poles away, I found a lonely pavement by the street. I cleaned its surface with my palms and I sat thinking of the book in my hand and the latin poet again, he felt familiar.

I'm Nigerian and in Nigeria we know how numbness feels familiar. You watch presidents y’all voted for tell you how they own the knife and the yam and yet refuse to cut nothing in the people's favour. The thumb that votes bears the brunt not the benefit. I too tapped on the book gently with my fingers like it was a mic stand. I took a glance at the wide street and heaved. Sometimes I feel unpatriotic ‘cause I don't know how to sell my loyalty to a sinking ship just because the bad sailor won't let the good sailors drive. We've mostly resorted to watching from a distance and living nevertheless. Bear being called illegal immigrants in the process of seeking refuge, running fast as your legs can take you from own very home, or save enough money to qualify you to be shipped by an airplane and yeah I get to celebrate Christmas in a city that isn't mine. Like that latin poet who was high on the podium and his own emotions numbed, swept under the red carpet.

I learnt faith is a type of patriotism, to pray and hope, to tell God about your country’s name until he remembers it or until we remember him as a nation. I open the first page of the book and the first line says

 

“this shall pass.” 

I put the plastic red rose in my pocket and whisper “Merry Christmas to me”.

Artworks 

All digital artworks featured on our blog. 

Read on Green wine's curse 🔗 Click to view Green wine's touch

Read on Confluence of the harp and the harpist 🔗 Click to view confluence of the harp and the harpist

Anticipate - THE RETIRED SOLDIER - Old men don't die, old hearts do.

Featured art for the week 

Created on November 17,2025. Jekphrasa (Helen). The man caught stealing roses (Green wine's curse series). A young lady poses at the window and watches a man who seems to be her lover pluck roses for her. Her pose is elegant while he's eager, holding his hat with one hand and plucking a rose with the other hand. The roof and brick wall feel dreamy. We're apparently brought to notice that it seems this young lady is giving her brick-walled heart a chance to love. perhaps...

Gift ideas

A gift idea for those you love this season... and no, this isn't about hampers.

Most of our friends, family and loved ones have been through a lot of things this year and are keeping everything to themselves because they want to be there for us. Some drift away silently, some have obviously stopped doing the things that they once loved passionately. Gifts go beyond, big hampers. 

We need to remind those around us that we care about them. This might just keep them strong. The mental health of our loved ones matter to us. 

Perhaps, you have someone around you struggling with their mental health. Here are free lovely notes to them from Jekphrasa. This would be a nice Christmas gift or a kind greeting to them as this year ends and a new year begins. 

♥

You can also get some for yourself 

Get free digital notes on our store: https://selar.com/m/jekphrasa-e-mart1

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Happy holidays from Jekphrasa.