MOVEMENT

 

Heaven

Accommodates loft of sky

Reveals day-sun, night-moon

Drifting clouds hide them at will

Distinctly placed, what marvel

 

Perfect round

Sun, forth from clear heavens

Dares direct look

Naked, stationary, gazes out hazy heavens

Seasonally invites glances

 

So declared

By human eye, malformed

So shaped at will by itinerant clouds

Golden, sometimes red ball

Warns night is but hours

 

Day is over

Racing crescent takes over

Out of now dark sky

Numberless stars affirm, twinkling

Still at clouds’ will

 

Moon

Complete, converts gazers

Holds down lovers far into night

Turns bright dark night

Overpowers sky diamonds

 

Each courses faithfully

Despite deface of clouds

And their playful imageries

Despite varied seasons

Changing according to Designer’s will

 

Each courses faithfully

Despite groans of agony

Wish to shorten

Despite ease or pleasure

Wish to lengthen

 

Sun rules day, passing

As moon rules night

Surely sun-days, moon-nights

Roll into years

And then eternity …

LAGOS

 

Intersection plagued with crowd

Happy, hustling, angry, hungry, mobbing

 

Traffic jams like unruly parking lot.

Bodies move, disturbed as bees in hives

Melting pot of tribes

Sometimes frightening, nightmarish

You never know when you are coming home

Without car or your turn to lose hand to thieves

Who want watch, bangles, or bracelet

But can’t wait to unleash.

 

It used to be when they rob

They ask for the Money

Got it from So and so

Or … Bank

They made husband watch the rape

Sometimes they ask for compliment

No choice here. Brutal

Hard to beat Lagos.

 

I rise with crows to get to work on time

But now I stand

Wait, wait, and wait

At last a ramshackle to suck us up

A crowd at the door, a brawl, chaos

Like a log in angry stream they haul me in

My right shoe dangles. Slips

Lost.

 

Jam-packed.

Behind, he leaves no room

This Jack

Pressing so hard, I shift away from bulge

I quit the fight

The braves raise rancor

Shame

The wish to disappear. Both.

 

Trapped on this hot day

To cool you had a drink for the road

They bug you, hawkers in their dozens

“Fine toothbrush!”

“Wall clock!”

“Buy antenna!”

“Oga, crackers, Tuc or Ritz?”

“Cold ice-water,

Or na Coke you want?”

 

You are drenched in sweats from head to undies

Disgusted

Now you are pressed, really need to go

Not alone, in front

Behind the wheels of Molue

He alights, sprays the tire as you watch

Jumps in relieved while his foaming

Streams between tires.

 

You pass skyscrapers, checkered glass,

Hawker-lined overpass

To mainland bridge

Or Carter

You withdraw to land

Join the comic palm-wine club

At nature-canopied groove

Palm bleeds white

In the keg hung at its throat.

Sieve a gulp with your whiskers

Sort out the latest from the clamor

And get drunk on voices.

 

Sunny Lagos is favored yet

Could be most exciting city

Sunshine, amiable from cloudless sky

Warms up white sands of Bar Beach

Restless surf of Atlantic Ocean

Caresses incessantly peopled shore.

Worry-free laughter rings out from the bubbling blue

Dotted black and brown

Shrieks ring from bewildered children

Losing hold on sweeping surf

Sand-shoes seized by breakers.

 

Now, let’s sit at Marina

Ankle-deep, cool water stroking tired feet

Let’s watch cargo ships queue in lagoon

Anxious to discharge

Let’s observe yacht-men cruising past

Unmindful of the great floaters

Let’s study forbearance from lonely fishermen paddling

Let’s smile as daylight dives under water

Let’s go home, our invisible companion, tautness

Cast below sea-level

Our ride home, renewed ardor.