City by the Lagoon (Hour 19)

A mere drizzle last night
and this morning multiples
of tiny pools have formed

outside my door. Fetid, because
floodwater mingles with sewage
oozing from the leaky septic tank.

Garbage heaps clog drainage
channels and floodwaters reverse
into unfortunate streets

that haven’t seen electric light
in donkey months so power-generating
sets compete for the noisiest prize.

I wade through putrid pools
and on my way out get
trapped in a traffic jam.

Broken exhausts spew fumes
straight into my lungs,
give me watery eyes.

Hawkers stick their wares in my face
and this cure-all medicine dealer’s
spittle settles on my right cheek.

From the inner streets
worshippers’ loudspeakers
give me tinnitus.

Now a cantankerous commuter
duels with a danfo driver
over fifty naira change.

Across the road keke
drivers war with agberos
over illegal ticketing fees.

Blood smears tar as okada fleeing
uniformed extortionists claims
an unlucky pedestrian’s left limb.

Wallahi, this city is a circus
show it’d be fun to watch
if it wasn’t killing.

6 thoughts on “City by the Lagoon (Hour 19)

  1. The description in this is so vivid it brought me right into the chaos of it all. Loved the way you made such a unique scene into something anyone reading could experience with you. Also, that last line really tied it all together in a way that gives a whole new perspective to the entire scene – makes me reconsider how I read and interpreted all of it, and that is amazingly done.

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