LOST IN THE CITY

LOST IN THE CITY When I passed my examsTo go for higher studiesShortly after dad diedMy mother asked meWhere I would get the moneyMy answer was simpleLike the bird, it sows notAnd reaps not, but feeds Once, I was toldHow hard it is to tellThe suffering of the pastWhen success comesAnd how you don’t tellThe story of the rain to the fireTime heals, but the scar remainsThe story of suffering slipped away After school, I told mumI was going to the cityShe said, no son, stayGo to the farmCrack palm kernelsRaise money and marryBuild a house and be happyThe village is good for you Stubborn, I'd made my mind upLeft the village to LagosI see fine and tall housesWith high gates of ironCrisscrossing overhead bridgesExpress roads full of vehiclesBut none accommodates meI sleep under the bridge I wake up early everydayIn search of all sorts of jobsThe soles of my shoes are goneI am a faceless shadow in the sunI think of going back to my communityBut there are so many crossroadsI can’t find the one to my village