Enigmatic Olumide

I
An epitome of integrity has never existed
A man that we all should look up to has never been born
Little wonder, the world is ruled by wolves
Who pretend to be sheep
And our rams follow the dogs to eat from the dunghills
As if we are made off the same clan

So let’s pretend we are all human
I will help you to succeed
I will take you to the abroad
To wine and dine with the people who rule the world
While we pretend that you never owed me
All I need to do is to collect your salaries

II
Let’s pretend you are the president
And I am the kingmaker
Call me jagaban, cabal, or whatever
You may have the mouth that is speaking
But I have the brain that is working

Let’s pretend we are asleep
Perhaps our lives won’t take a dip
Maybe we will be lucky to differentiate those who love us
From those who only want to ride us

Maybe we pretend we are all dead
And finally we put into the open the truth our fellow humans dread
That shedding crocodile tears could fill up the ocean
When actually what they have for us is nothing but hatred

III
Let’s pretend that we never worshipped
This God that has no war-ship
Who wins wars that He won’t even attend
What kind of a god goes into battles
Asking his soldiers to sing praises
instead of using ammunitions
Though I’ve seen His miracles and heard of His testimonies
I prefer the gods of America, North Korea, or Russia
Who win wars by shaking the earth and
making the unbelievers to fear

Anyway, let’s pretend we are holy
Even when we go a-whoring
Raising holy hands like we command His presence
While in the club our dirty hands we raise
to Davido, Techno, or Phyno

But, let’s pretend we do not sin
Though our iniquities could sink the titanic
After all, it’s not a thing that our eyes have not seen
Some pastors feed us with deceit like it’s daily tonic
“Akoda oro odabi ada gbeyin”
Though they may deceive me on a Sunday
I want to deceive them on a full week

Let’s pretend we are innocent
Even when we are the biggest plants
Claiming to be in labour for Him like a pregnant woman
When in actual fact we are after the sugary-congregation
like ants

IV
Let’s pretend we are normal
Even though we are abnormal
So we could mix with the crowd going to Canaan
And make the watchdogs join us to sink our fellow humans

Nevertheless, pretend this is not an irony
And what you hear me say is actually what I want to say
So when they come to label me a pagan, rebel, or unbeliever
You will tell them of all the ills I have done in the past
Of the good people I killed and the messiahs I made to backslide

Finally, let’s pretend you didn’t hear me say this
So when the DSS, General Overseers, or Imams come for my head
You will tell them it was from a small boy from one small family
in one small neighbourhood
So they could realize that the family is the smallest unit of a nation
That if the well-being of families are continued to be neglected
Our politicians, religious leaders, or village elders
will continue to be like a ship that wants to sail on a dry land

© The Enigmatic, Olumide Bisiriyu
29-04-17. 2:00-2:40pm

*“Akoda oro odabi ada gbeyin” : revenge is more painful than first offense

Source: Enigmatic Global Concept

Editor’s note: Originally published as part of the 31 Days of Poetry series on VicAdex.com on 11 July 2017.

Editor’s note: Originally published as part of the 31 Days of Poetry series on VicAdex.com on 11 July 2017.