by Agatha Aduro
For N.E
I
A thousand tongues surrounded you
Ten thousand feet stomped the ground
A million dust devils had you like a spinning top
Held you bound with a pagan chant
You – your blood curdled in your veins
Like abandoned milk in the backyard
After the tenth sunrise
Through it all, I sat at your side
when you strayed to the edge of this link’s elasticity
I sat by the warmth of your memory
when you drifted back within hearth’s boundaries
I was sitting there
Begging, pleading, yelling and screaming curses
Through boiling tears
II
Two rain drops raced, earthbound
And struck my windscreen at an awkward angle
One drop ran on the straight and narrow
The other loitered on in a winding pattern
Both plopped on earth’s parched tongue
In a hand-and-glove predestination
Neither early, nor the other late
Earth drank greedily as I watched
And learned a lesson taught by liquid tutors
You are not late by no one’s timing
You didn’t fail when you tried again
When seductive voices whispered; lie down, it’s easier
You became my HERO when you strained your all
And put that foot forward again. And again
With Heads in the Sand
Who says this country is falling apart?
Here, have some cake.
We are a royal thievehood, a people set apart
Who says? This country is falling apart
This is a perfected art, we must bag money carts
While we keep up the illusion for dear name’s sake
Who says this country is? Falling apart
Here, have some – cake.
Turn down the volume of exploding bombs
Business is brisk, there is no risk
We’ll throw some money at the people: alms
Turn down the volume? Of falling bombs?
Diversionary tales, without qualms
Students parked at owners’ risk
Turn down the volume. Of falling bombs
Business is brisk? There is no risk
We must think up new ways of sharing loot
Let us call a meeting, call it confab
Of white washed suits with shit repute
We must think up new ways. Of sharing loot
Gather people without shoes, thieves in cahoot
Let us call a meeting! Call it! Confab!
We must think up! New ways of sharing loot!
Let us call a meeting! Call it – Confab