NO LONGER WHO WE SUPPOSED TO BE

the mirrors on the wall didn’t tell us who were
but who we ought to be

life gets thinner as we approach the rendezvous
and the porter of death crack open
food and drink and women, what else about life
if not plans as the preacher said

thousands pray
thousands more just live on
just keep the sky in circle
until your number is up to go home

I look in the mirror, one last time
I was supposed to be a doctor
the emergency ward is calling me
or at least that’s what daddy wanted
but my government ask the teachers to reject me
and the school miss me.

instead of playing dominoes or betking
I stole Lucifer’s pen from his word chest
to write smile to those he condemned

I hope I write out Soyinka’s eyes too
Since I can’t operate his heart.

Poem by NYORE NOTE. To know more about the Poet, click here.