Cockroaches

There are cockroaches
Moving in our rooms
In dark and in broad daylight
They share in what we eat
Sleeping in our beds
Without our consent

To some of us;
They are the first things we see when awake
And the last thing
When our lights go off
An inversion of events
The place of our lovers
Cockroaches in our dreams

There are cockroaches of corruption
Hidden in files of our institutions
Eating our moral fiber
And carrying diseases of impunity across
When our doors are closed

Cockroaches in the name of men
Chasing after our ladies
Who they have no intention of marrying
But just to sleep with them
Disappearing in the light of pregnancy
Roaching from responsibility

They are cockroaches of women
Who give empty promises
Eyeing the fat wallet of the hardworking

But are burnt by the flame of marriage

There are cockroaches of religion
Roaching in the name of pastors
Saying of water and drinking wine
Asking us money for a free gift

We also see the cockroach in you
Stealing money from our public institution
Smuggling illicit drugs into the country
Then roaching into a public seat
Never quitting such an office
To protect your wealth.

Cockroaches everywhere
In our homes and campus
That have not been sprayed
Ashaming when visitors live with us.

But we are glad for the cockroaches
That are dead in our Television sets

The Civilian Pursuit: Earlier On

The Civilian Pursuit: Earlier On: There are demons we used to speak about We said of devil worshipers And we took much caution When it came to witches and wizards Pastor...

Earlier On

There are demons we used to speak about
We said of devil worshipers
And we took much caution
When it came to witches and wizards
Pastors connected us to Almighty
Without us paying

We were much patient of the Catholic Priest
When he took so long to wipe the cups
Teachers were parents who lived in school
Indisputable in judgement

Earlier on villagers could discipline our own
And we needed prayers
When one of us was struck by lightining
or their livestock

People knew of others wedding and burials
without cards of invitation
Relatives visited without request
It was possible for girls to be watched by 'parents'
while they were on their way
And our boys shied affection display before elders

So true that kids were a blessings
The bold and the beautiful was for grown ups
And beer couldn't be advertised on daylight

We used to recite the Surah
Resembling in length and severity
But have forgotten it, however

That was Earlier on,










Today we don't talk of demons or cast them
Of course there are psychological and emotional issues
There are lounges and clubs of lotteries
With services we don't speak about
We encourage self realization for kids
Yoga and feeling good about oneself
Not much of the Holy and noble books

Pastors are mentioned in worst crimes
And some of Catholic priests
Associated with drunkenness and sexual perversion
Parents outline the role limit of teachers
Teach education but don't touch the morals
 Sad that some tutors today
Can't keep their eyes off
Our Children skirts

Villagers have become outsiders and foreigners
We stand for our own even if they err
Unaware of the same society that judges grown ups
by mob justice
But it disciplines the young when let
Earlier excommunication comparable to mob justice

Lightning was a misfortune
But we have lightning arrestors today

Ceremonies need an invitation
Not to be victimized with poor service
Having our relatives call to visit
Outlining their span of stay
Life a bus that cant stop easily
A merry go round that involves everyone
Known or unknown to us.

Girls aren't watched, genuine parents
cant tell the genuine party
Boys cuddle in front of men
Kids have become a liability to some
Where soap films are our love guides
And divorce is victory


Soon we may not pray for the sick
That would seem weird
Hands may not be lifted for Alter calls
We don't do that around here
Errors won't be pointed
My life
Living away from mirrors