Insane Duel

There was no going back now.

Proceedings, already cast in stone,

The battle line had drawn

In the sand, and in minds;

Images macabre, shadows long,

Not sure who would carry the day,

Every villager’s mind cluttered.

Ogidi’s waist in loin-cloth strained,

His foe, Agaba, attired alike, raved.

Each wrestler, looking up to the gods

For unqualified victory in a brutal brawl,

Yet, wondered if fighting made sense.

Up-tempo war song the night air dried up,

Sticks in clashes with xylophone ranted;

Cranky gongs the fever pitch made to soar,

Denying rivals the luxury of showing mercy.

Sheer savagery in the death of both ended,

Long after spectators had opted for an end;

Trying to halt a blood-bath proved abortive,

No less, throwing threats at insane pugilists.

Until this day, in the beleaguered village,

Wrestling a thing of the past has become;

Although the sport cherished for long stood

And many a heart then did make go gay up.

Lagos, June 12, 2014

Jackpot Illusions

 

You place a Call, Roam, Browse, Port,

All to no avail try as hard as you can;

Nothing can your troubles take away,

Not even a free call to Customer Care.

Pedestrian sales’ hype so blossomed   

Has at ludicrous costs that fifteen years

Down the line, not a soul a view dares

To ever express against the Big Boys.

On the air-waves, “Win-A-Car” promo

One year flaunting, to “Win-Lotto” on

Bill-boards, in another, brandishing,

Complacent service providers, each,  

Now a star of sorts comes out shinning;

By leaps and bounds with guile grow,

Carrot-and-stick tactic makes them glow;

Customers, by jack-pot illusions dazzled,

Soon will, in cesspool of Tom-foolery land,

With credit not enough to call the police.

Lagos, June 7, 2014

Grandma’s Nuptials

Gracefully, Step by step,

At the Marina Anglican Church

With maids, like eggs in a clutch,

The newly-weds

Hand in hand

Away walked from the altar;

Not before Parson James

Their nuptials with “Amen” sealed.

Pa Amos and bride,

Ma Priscilla, then, slowly

Each other kissed tenderly

Following which orders aplenty

From cameramen heeded.

One photo after another

From one group to another

Here and there

Grandma, aka Nne Ije-Ukwu,

Slim and pretty

Never looked sweeter

Presently at a cock-tail party

Where guests generously

Aired adulation

On a doting husband’s gallantry,

His elegant bride

Not complimented any less,

Lovingly, in deep appreciation

Without reservation or hesitation

One and all gave a hug

Not caring if any had a bug,

She, whose conversion

To Christianity

Took almost an eternity

Lagos, June 2, 2013

European Scouts

In the nick of time, crystal clear

It all became

When the final whistle went

And cool waters of relief

From on high, God

On a nation’s

Ninety-four-minute

Anxiety splashed.

Nigerians, at last, overjoyed,

To The Almighty

Throaty encomiums

Trumpeted forth,

Beer drinking and

Dancing all night long

Whilst fire-works

The dark sky lighted.

In a blaze of glory,

The twentieth edition

Of Africa’s football tournament

At an end,

Its coveted trophy

To Nigeria twice already

Destined, again,

This time around, went.

An experienced national coach,

Against the run of play,

Thanks to his belief

In local lads,

Who, hungry for victory,

Their country made proud,

European scouts,

In droves, these

Talented African players

In numbers, now

With confidence

Snap up.

Lagos, June 14, 2013

A Village Morning

             

Early risers, who a foot-path thronged,

While the stars up above still twinkled,

Jungle creatures yet asleep roused.

Armed with varying sizes of calabash,

Villagers to a distant water-hole rushed.

Oh, how sweet it was, life in the village

Back in the day, when male and female,

Young and old, along the way defecated;

Their behinds with corn-cobs tidied up,

In gender-segmented pools took a bath!

Females chattering, or love songs singing,

Their ebony-black bodies scrubbed clean.

Men, out Tilapia fish, one or two, to catch,

Their level best with a cast net did, in silence.

After lovers sweet nothings had said and done,

To potable water’s segment headed one and all.

With wet, laundered clothes held in one arm-pit,

In tandem on every head sat a water-calabash.

Lagos, 2014-02-23