The city is dark
From Majidun to the breezy beach.
The cloud is thick. Very thick.
I see no star nor rainbow.
Will it rain soon
Or it’s night so soon?
A total eclipse this one is
Or how do I put it?
Sky’s electric workers on strike
Or just another power failure?
The switch-spring slackens
Light’s lost in the bulbs.
Let there be light
If there ever will be.
A joke is a joke!
Loud laughter, jolly jeers.
A dreamer this one is.
Johnny just come.
His eyes need washing.
Dandy daddys dance drowsily
With dead-drunk dozzy dames.
Sixteen or sixty all same-same
Dressed or nude, insane or sane
Darkness devours distinction.
Breeds of the dark
Never never die
Welcome to Dark City.
Segun Adelugba
EDITOR’S NOTE
Originally published in Nigeria Magazine on 01 Jun 1970, p. 158. This diplomatic transcription preserves the wording and lineation visible in the archived page.