Ogbanje Poem by Chris Jibero

Impalpable
Unfathomable
Ubiquitous
Nebulous
Faceless
Colourless
Heartless
Bullish
Foolish
snatching at will breath invested
on moulded earth as it prowls
everywhere like a prey-humbling
lion poised to select a choice game
from a defenseless herd spread
in the savanna like Sahara sand

vicious like a newly-afflicted lunatic
out to do havoc
with or without provocation
choosing as it pleases



young and old
small and big
thin and fat
short and tall
ugly and beautiful
poor and rich
subject and king
weak and strong
sick and healthy
foolish and wise
proud and humble
crooked and upright
sparing none that breathes


an arrant intruder
a gate-crasher extraordinaire
a blind and mindless chooser
an incorruptible democrat
leaving in its trail waves
of anger, grief, rage
but seldom joy and jubilation

a conscientious teacher imparting
unmitigated knowledge of life's futility
that is scarcely learned by
her many intransigent and unintelligent
students engrossed in their mad quest
for medals that most
times become lusterless


a stabilizer and moderator
of mortals and God's
own comedian for He
must be enthralled as He
watches mortals
copulate
conceive
deliver
grow
toil
flourish
and perish
in an endless cycle that makes all
ogbanje.