Published May 15th, 2025
by Joseph C. Ogbonna
In the shanty suburbs of Nigeria's southeast,
right beneath the blistering heat of the golden tropical sun's rays,
I hike twice monthly as a marketing employee,
baked like a bean cake in a burning earthen furnace.
Walking past the stench of the green and hygienically toxic sewage
of the narrow and rugged pathways
of the locally branded, face me, I face you shanties,
I read the energy gauge of each crowded home unit.
Uncontrollably aloud, the insolent residents yell,
we no get light, and you dey bill us. God punish you.
And, May God punish you for billing us amidst the protracted power outage.
With my heavy purse strapped around my heavy ladened small waist,
I take a precautionary step somewhat backwards
to avoid being assaulted by the very livid street hoodlums.
Raging fumes smouldering from exasperated lips becloud my focus
and impede my movement, such that I take hundred more steps backwards
to avoid being the worst victim of all
of my country's comatose power enterprise.
About the Poet
Joseph C. Ogbonna resides in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Read the poet's biography on Joseph C. Ogbonna's Artist Page.
This poem is included in Comet #5,
published in the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
Previously published in Nigeria Poetry Magazine:
Tales by Moonlight
by Joseph C. Ogbonna
Nigeria Poetry Magazine is part of the Wax Poetry and Art Network.
- Visit the main Wax Poetry and Art Submissions Page to see all opportunities.
- Visit the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
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