Did You Say Die? Poem by samuel nze

Did you say die, Lord
When my foes looked
Enviously upon me
Wishing I would be off
With my unsettling self
So that they would no longer
Cast acrimonious eyes
On my forced show-off
As they thought my sprightly grace?
Did you say die, Lord
When those who hated my gait
Reminded me that my shoulders
Were a trifle too highly raised
And my heels clicked simpe simpe
Whereas my age-mates were
Smoking goof and talking
Of their amorous exploits
In the solitude of the obeche stump?
Did you say die, Lord
When the jealous ones caught me
Reading by the candlestick
And their faces creased with
Displeasure at the impetuous crime
Of having this a dictionary
And that a too hefty textbook
While they were weeding grass
And preparing the dinner
I too would consume?
Have you said die, Lord
Now that I have this headache
And stomach heaving
To the uncalled for insult
Received from her yesterday
Who told me to pick my steps
From where I left them
As I was sprinting much too fast
For my shadow.