Egbeda Rat Poem by Osazee Dankaro

It is 4.30am
I am dressed in my corporate formal banker's attire
And walking towards "bakery" bus stop
To catch a bus, on my way to the island, to work

The midnight drizzle has increased the water level of the potholes
Which I can barely see, but for the still blazing lights:
the few poor rich who keep their small generators running till morning,
And the tepid illumination of my android mobile

Something stirred just ahead - am I to lose my phone again?
I brought the mobile up, in its direction
To show light and to threaten, and then I stopped. For,
It was a rat, big as a cat.

Its filthy rotten eyes locked green gaze with mine
And I could count the quivering whiskers of the old soul
As it perched on its hind legs, barring the way
Immobile, impervious, indifferent

I felt for a rock on the wet floor
Found one, pried it free and hurled it at the beast
The throw was off, and it continued to stare with condescension:
A Nigerian politician when it isn't election season.

Finally, bored, it ambled haughtily off.
My breath is coming hard and fast
And I pause to gather my nerves back in a tight little bundle
Before proceeding along, to my bed in the danfo for the two hours journey.


Dankaro Osazee
5.30am - 19-06-2020
Airport Road, Warri