poetry web

Ignored in ways conceived by crooks only
these mighty masters building others’ fortunes
have never tried to stop and ask
if their own destinies could in definite ways
be given certain shape and design
through their own passionate and dedicated involvement
as marked in their generous contributions
in all these magnificent instances in raising
which they have never got time to bother
if with their own co-operative labour
capital could be commanded to create for them
the kind of destiny they themselves would desire
and that bit of ignorance to mind
their own security in times when youth
and energy vanish and for hard times and rough weather
nothing is left for their creative hard years
of labouring youth and friends by then should be long lost
all falling casualty to same circumstances
of betrayal by those whose prestige, property,
power, position and pride are all but their zealous creations
the shine and glory of which keeps them away
at a distance they are now unable even to measure
with their weakened eyes and powerless knees and elbows
once upon a time which used to be the sure sources
of their strength and the cause for others
to flatter them for their own uses in selfish ways.

I live under a Chinese-made bridge in the city
Unconcerned about the cracks of life in its walls
Many years ago, before the crackdown of mushroom
Houses, in city places like Sodom and Gomorrah where
I used to live; my body would have rested on pure
Rubbish-like mats woven by Hausa women

In my new little ghetto, the road is always playing
Music as the speed of the cars raps a tsweee
And tshiooo sounds that mix together to form a song
In my past life, I should have been dancing adowa
To the beats, with friends like Zig and Zag, whom since
The demolishing, we have yet to meet

Only yesterday, a heavy-duty truck loaded with huge timbers,
I guess from the forest of the north disrupted my dance
When the driver went high on the amplifiers of the break
And killed a pregnant woman making way to the zebra crossing

I was the only witness who rushed to the scene when the
Incident happened in the early hours of the morning while
The driver sped on and some men in uniform arrived at the
Scene only to handcuff me without asking any question

Today, today, see me, whoever is reading this poem, as I
Am lying in this smelly closet with this guard in a faded brown
Uniform who tells me every now and then to prepare for my death