UBA House

UBA House

United Bank of Africa, making a bank,

Sending message, from Africa,

Email for you, United from us,

United Bank of Africa, calling, calling, you

Answer, United Bank, Africa, Africa, see bank, United of

Nigeria Bank, but bank for Africa, Bank

Of Africa, not divided, united,

United Bank of Africa,

Head office, in Africa, Nigeria, Nigeria in Africa, United,

Bank of Africa, United, In Africa, United

With Africa, Bank in Lagos, Lagos

United with Nigeria, in Africa, capable of phone call

Or fax, fax the United Bank of Africa,

United fax, United phone, in Africa,

Phone and Fax of Africa, of the United Bank of Africa,

Greetings!

//

Ben's note on this poem: It was based off of spam emails I kept getting from bankers in Africa and the UAE who claimed to have special unknown accounts for me to withdraw from and abuse. Some even claimed to be from officials at the United Nations (they liked to use emails ending in UN.com). So I played around with the language they gave me, especially the grandiose statements and promises in the subject line...I tried to capture the repetitive and desperate nature of these appeals.

Ben Nardolilli currently lives in New York City. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Red Fez, Danse Macabre, The 22 Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, Elimae, fwriction, Inwood Indiana, Pear Noir, The Minetta Review, and Yes Poetry. He blogs and is looking to publish a novel.