Naked Flower

Grey beards

Grating voice

That betray no quiver of fear

Reminding many of

The prophets of old

Denouncing the sins

Of Israel

Towering physique

Enacting the vision of a

Desmond Tutu berating

Botha and Apartheid

Rev. (Dr.) Udogu Ukaegbu’s portrait

Stands out of Sunday Concord

Drawn in polemic by Dimgba Igwe

Spitting fire at the heads

Of the Heads;

Piercing the consciences of all.

Where are the Ukaegbus today?

Snoring under the sectarian benches

Of convenience and sycophancy!

Rest In Jail

Listen, ego-needing man in brown beret

Pitched have I

My tent

Under the bridge at Oshodi

It is a gargantuan castle

Of the close-fitting air

That surrounds me roundabout

While I snake-coil

On the sleepy-waterbed

Away at an angle

Unabated visitation without a knock

Sonorously,

Friendly mosquitoes flap-in their wings

To demand their pound of my flesh; in blood

My crime?

Competition over their waterbed of crèche

Come, power-hungry man in camouflage

Observe my home, and answer me

“Am I not a happy man?”

Never worried about burglars

Thoughts of inferno trouble me not

Rather, the close-knit brotherhood of the bridge

Are bureaucrats with broad chests

Answer me, “Am I not a happy one?”

Now, hungry man in black

Arrest me!

Take out your cuffs

And land it on my hands; lock it

Let my hands have a feel of that cold jewelry

While you escort me, as a king

To that castle of rest; the jail

Where only privileged mosquitoes

Are allowed in to dine with me

Where my food is portioned by maids

Where the gates are manned

By stern-looking uniformed men

Where I shall lay to think uninterrupted!

Now, man in black

Escort me to that palace

Of lazy men, called jail

I want to rest!