Borrowed Garments Poem by Damilare Tella

We sought prosperity; we longed for civility.
To prosper, we bartered away our liberty;
For civility, we surrendered our rawness.

To govern our civility, we appointed rulers.
To safeguard our prosperity, we appointed watchers.
Lest we descend into our rawness, we appointed guardians.

But we failed to ask:
Who shall watch the watchers?
Who shall rule the rulers?
Who shall guide the guardians?

We boast of civilization, yet cradle our wilderness.
Civility is but a borrowed garment;
Beneath it, rawness patiently breathes.