Our Needs Dilemma Poem by Kingsley Egbukole

Late thisafternoon
I, naked and washing
My hide from exhaustion
Of the toil of the day
Overheard mama say
These lizards
If you were eatable
You wouldn't come this close

I stopped to ponder on that
And found it absolute truth

Lizards on the road
Lizards at the backyard
Lizards tn the front
Lizards in the open kitchen
Lizards on the left
Right back and front
And cracks all around

Reminds me
Of the Nigerian civil war
When lizards were prey in the east
And kept far away from man
Who needed protein like peace
They dare not come near him
Who savour the delicacy with smack

I ponder again
And conclude then
That life is same
All through and through
The things we seek
Are hard to find
The ones around
We have no need
In time and space and shape

(Tuesday 14th December,1999,4.57pm)