Lagos Poem by Chris Jibero

Lagos
A city in a hurry
Rather than welcome warmly
Your ever teeming guests
With a humble handshake
Or a bear hug
You introduce yourself
With royal aplomb and detachment,
'This is Lagos'
That makes the wise brace
Up on time
For the lessons you prescribe
To all in ample dosage

Lagos
A city of a mixed multitude
That strive for excellence
Difficult to embrace
Oblivious that you make
Opportunities walk on their heads
For a giant you can swallow
As an ant but throw
Up a midget in resplendence
Having crowned him a king

Lagos
A massive spectacle
Of beauty and blithe
Living side by side
Happily like a compatible couple
But being impatient, you wait
For none
And being elastic, you accommodate
All that pour into you like
Your seven-day-rain swelling
Your banks that never burst
At her seams
Because in waters of splendour
Is your foundation firmly laid

Lagos
A chain of mountainous
Refuse dumps
Dishing handouts to human
And animal scavengers apiece
And stabbing unwilling nostrils
And eyeballs with impunity
Instead of extending a hand
Of fellowship to vultures
That have sworn not to pay
You a visit because you make
No hotel reservation for the weak
And the patient

Lagos
A city on a quick march
Propelling even your mobile gossips
In their mad rush to disperse lies
To board molue and danfo
As they feign more urgency than
A team of Rapid Response Squad

Lagos
A bitter-sweet array of
Pure and impure waters
That assuage parched tongues
And afflict unfortunate souls.

(c) Chris Jibero.2004.