I should look left, right,
And left again?
So we were taught…
Our teachers lied to us
Today, I look right
More than I look left.
And I look back,
Too often than forward.
My head swishes round,
I can’t catch my breath,
I have to run fast;
Even on a zebra crossing,
For the road is not my friend.
It has no control
Over its toys
And I can’t seem to see
Why it still keeps these toys,
For if my toy disobeys me,
I dash it to the trash.
Now I run,
A market woman
Beside me screams, “Ejo o o”
Just to save her dear life.
She also needs to hurry somewhere,
Doesn’t she?
But the figures in these toys
That are luckier than she
Keep hurrying too,
And when the hurrying toys
Crash into a hurrying crosser,
They speed away
And enjoy the road as they please.
So tell me,
Who will pay for the crime?
The crosser lies there,
Flat on the road.
People cry, protest, talk, insult.
Who receives these?
The fellow-protesters.
The toy is far gone,
And can never be tracked down.
This road, this clear view
Thirsts for blood
More often than vampires;
(I have never seen one at least)
This road, keeping track of beautiful cars
And ugly buses
Has no mercy on any of these,
For the road is fairer than judges.
This road does not see your face,
It does not take account
Of your savings and investments,
It does not care if you funded it;
For a fair judge
Sentences her mother for murder;
It takes your blood, whoever you are.
A vampire is friendly to a helper,
But a road?
Not even close.
The only friend
You need to help
Is yourself.
The road is thirsty,
It devours your soul,
Making sacrifice to the mine gods.
Yinka Owate is a final year student of English Literature at Lagos State University. She is a versatile writer who deals with essays, poetry, fiction, drama and screenplays. She is also an on-air personality at Bluevoiceradio, an online radio station. She engages herself in the performing arts (acting and dance). She hopes to inspire people to pursue their interests, no matter how impossible they may seem. Blog link: www.versatilely.blogspot.com.
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