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September 15th, 2026
by Joel Iteku
I have a view from my window, two stories up, from the red roof of my neighbours to the red earth of Volta. A voyeur I have become, a god, I see the spiders, the birds, the house flies, how they jostle for bread, for shelter, for love. I see my neighbour's wife below, holding her suckling child to her breast, wiping two rusty tears from her limpid eyes. I see the old cobbler, days where there are no shoes to mend, he talks to himself, maybe a silent prayer for bread, or more broken shoes. I see the preacher, fiery, cock sure, he spoke to God last night, not me, the other one, we burn unless we pay his God. I see the politician next door, he rides on his horse and ten body guards, haughty like a new pharaoh, gold rings, gold chains, a tin god, like me, there is alms for all. I see the lovers, when the red twilight finds them in the arms of my lone street, they whisper gilded words only the birds, the spiders, the stray cats hear. They take a detour that leads to each other, a cul de sac that's a beginning, and hope has tender eyes again, as they hold hands and laugh at the grey night, and all the love turn grey.
About the Poet
Joel Iteku resides in Udu, Delta State, Nigeria.
Read the poet's biography and Wax Poetry and Art publications
on Joel Iteku's Artist Page.
This poem is featured in Comet #9, published in the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
Keywords: windows, observing people, community
Previously published in Nigeria Poetry Magazine:
That Hidden Tenderness
by Emmanuel Igiegba Okodo
Nigeria Poetry Magazine is part of the Wax Poetry and Art Network.
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