24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
Rarzack Olaegbe. He is a journalist with about three decades of practice. He has been a reporter and editor of different magazines and newspapers. He has covered Politics. Health. Entertainment. Information Technology. Brands and Products. Telecommunication. Financial Technology. He is an active ghostwriter. He is working on many published book projects. He is a regular radio guest. He is a Fintech enthusiast. He is the pioneer managing editor of FinancialTechnology magazine, devoted to Fintech for over 10 years. The magazine circulated in 14 countries. He is a newspaper columnist. He is the co-host of the annual Lagos Fintech Week, Nigerian Fintech Awards since 2012, and Financial Inclusion events. He is a TEDxIkeja volunteer. As a Communications Advisor, he consults for many of the leading Fintech firms in Nigeria including Interswitch, SystemSpecs, Remita, Precise Financial Systems, Digital Jewels etc. Buzz him @RarzackO
Lagos, like the mythical elephant
ugly and attractive
a moment it is flooded
the next it is a silk
smooth
dazzling
fragile
strong and enterprising
accommodating and regale
If a capital city is needed
you check the boxes
exotic tastes
eyes for beauty
energy and virility
how can you not be named the capital city
oh, dear me, you were once named
That is where you inherited your mien
Waiting can be painful
if you aren’t sure of the reason
you are in the prison
for the season
but the moment you know
and you can see
it is pure ecstasy
like an unfruitful couple
gifted with twin diamonds
after 20 years
Osun, the river goddess
is believed to bless
barren women and not men
with babies.
Soon in not too distance future
peace will flood the earth
and the violence of now
and the violent now
will be erased
Rolls Royce
soon I will have a ride in you
this is true
Ma told a tale
of a devout worshipper
of thunder
falsely accused of stealing a goat
sentenced
to be imprisoned
In court, he invoked his god
Thunder struck
His accusers died.
A woozy drunk DUI
He lost control because he was DUI
Police officer arrest drunk for DUI
What was thought a bender-fender was deeper
He got a ticket for DUI
The victim pressed charges for DUI
The drunk pleaded guilty for DUI
What was thought a bender-fender was deeper
The victim dropped charges against drunk for DUI
Police officer held drunk for DUI
The victim remedied the drunk off DUI
The drunk and victim wedded by the police officer
Black, white, and brown skin colours lost meaning
when we gathered to celebrate the One
who had so much done
in need and in deed
the worship was electric
the mood ecstatic
the environment terrific
Time lost its meaning
as no one was in haste to fly
we were not done
we were one with the One we sought
The guns hired to keep watch
surrendered their arms
under the influence of the anointing
fear left without a backward glance
the worship was electric
the mood ecstatic
the environment terrific
Brewed in the inner most part of my being,
My smile escapes
It travels
It blooms
It spreads its tentacles across the four walls of the earth
It radiates
Like wild fire
Its contagious touch turns
everything and everyone
into a smiling movement
It is a smiling world
Ana laid on the floor and looked into space
she did not contest her space
she did not whine
she has lost her verve
Ana ignored her master
cold as a cucumber, she looked the other way
she had nothing to say
as she wont to do
She had nothing to do
she would not engage in sports
she had become docile
she has lost interest in everything
nothing matters to her any more
Isn’t it said whatever a Pit Bull does, it does with heart and soul?
What happened to Ana so?
The Pit Bull in Ana
Has died