MY LAGOS, THEIR NIGERIA

constant swear drips from her face

Toiling and sweating so she's not left behind in this race

Sweaty palms and greasy flesh in the weather 

Doing multiple jobs so she'll make life better

Receiving insults all for the sake of hawking 

angry mobs might lynch you for nothing 

If you don't push hard to make gain that day

you'd have nothing to feed on not even a grain

Young minds pushing carts up and down for hustle

Competition so high you have to ignore the tussle 

in a bit of rush beside a danfo to make a sale

you are pushed, you tumble and you fray

Walking in slow strides pushing a wheel barrow of goods

Empty bus parks and it's been rushed by fools

not minding the value of your products

some collides with it and feet(s) tramples on them in the dust

Looking pale in a corner he lays down homeless

No meals for days he feels helpless

Keke splashes you water and you tell him waka

by the time you turn, oh! Lord here comes a tanker

In a moment of rage you sit there wet

So weak and frail you're soaking wet

Biting your lips as your curse under your breath

Fist clenched but no one to duel

Conductor dancing as he hangs on by the door

driver swerving hard as he nears a port

passenger screaming as they flare in shock

curses rends the sky as the bus climbs a rock

Police crosses over to view the scene 

Agbero troops in to obtain and steal

This is Lagos, protect all your treasure

If you lose guard, you're obtained by all measures 

It is not a stale news that the country is not safe

not much security, that is the state

For I live on the island in a street called Pike

We protect ourselves with everything at sight 

For how long would we continue to live like this

Even our so called leaders are not resting in peace 

They say youths are the leaders of tomorrow

"Which tomorrow?, the one I see in sorrow?"

Police controlling traffic putting on black 

Sun scourges, making his skin go dark

Hey! That officer might slum for he is old

Na the hustle, ends must meet for he has been told

Market women calling buyers at the top of their voice

Customers pricing, but all in void 

So sad, that women needs to sell by all means 

For she has mouths to feed and a landlord who is mean 

"Happy birthday" she said to her boyfriend who is twin

He said "come over, I will go buy the drinks"

Kick start the engine trying to hurry to shoprite

ran under a trailer after he skipped the traffic light

His sport car unidentifiable with such a gory sight

torn to pieces as metal pierced his sides

mourners wearing blacks on his candle night

no slow mode in Lagos, everywhere is tight

Insurgents deciding the fate of my nation 

Rescuing Chibok girls seems abomination 

because their own family isn't part of them

no wahala, they can rot in the enemy's den

Some corps members posted to their doom

an average family lives in one room

everyday we live as if it's our last day

Only God gives us assurance in another way 

Minimum wage is an eye sore

even to get paid is war 

Aged pensioners standing for hours under the hot sun

Some sent the ways of their fathers before it gets to their turn

You say we are the giant of Africa

old glory yanked off like stickers 

for we are like fading shadows 

living in the gallow below

He ran through the hood and down to the brothel

even if you were there, you better don't tell

his life was cut short by the same brothers in cult

he laid lifeless, no one to blame, nobody at fault 

All hell broke loose the next day as the area scatters 

Police trooped in, arrest you so long you're Rasta

A lot of innocent youths we're catered away to station 

huge bails followed, oh! Lord, I'm sick of this nation 

Bereft of amenities we live in awe

even if you're legal but caught, you'll rot in jail

Alaba is not a place you'll sleep and dab

If you go slack you'll get sold along with tab

Public schools are just there, no infrastructure

Students sits on sticks and stones learning in torture

Still they say youths are the leaders of tomorrow

Presidential tickets we can't afford, too huge to borrow

@talk2leigh

9th Sept 18

7:57am