The Newsstand Assembly Poem by G. Akanji Olaniyi

The dawn heralds their assembly
A tradition lost in social history
Founded on idleness and need to disperse boredom
Encouraged by widespread unemployment and dearth of opportunities
The assembly of the commoners and the masses
The newsstand assembly
What is the rule of engagement?
What are the requirements for involvement?
None! At least, not in any known constitution
Multitudes with pockets in solitude
Gathering with no allowances and salaries
Speeches laced with innuendos
But spit in fires and venom of anger
Arguments twisted in individual frustrations
Oral disputes devoid of fist combats
By the setting of the sun, they scatter into oblivion
No input into the day’s sales attributes to them
Come the next dawn, they reappear

OLANIYI G. AKANJI
© 2015