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Poor, yet over-delayed salary
Unpaid allowances, forgotten arrears
No incentives, hard labour
Used, abused, misused, disposed
Haggard, hungry, gored and bored
Bugged, abandoned and overstretched;
Service, a blessing or curse?
Sane, sound, sincere and sensitive
Diligent, dedicated and delightful
Truthful, trusworthy and thoughtful
Committed, cautious and courteous
Respectful, responsible and reasonable
Lively, loyal and law abiding
Humble, humane and harmonious
Punctual, peaceful and protective
Regular, resilient and resourceful
What went wrong?
No shelter of his own
No balanced meal,
Unclean water, unsafe environment
Not even a bicycle
Deteriorating, dwindling and ageing
Timid vicinity, crude community
Is service a crime?
Unpaid pensioners, unemployed children
Retarded passions, stunted visions
Frustrated dreams, crushed talents
Dashed hopes, dimmed future
Wishing he was umarried and childless
Like his colleagues who had it rougher.
A boundless pain
Slumping on verification queues
Bedridden, dejected and rejected
Dying, a miserable pauper
Undignifying, so ungodly a culture
Bound a people, cruel a world
Wasted, unyielding, so regretful a labour;
The height of cruelty on patriots.
About Author
Ngozi Olivia Osuoh a is a Nigerian poet/writer. She has published many works in some foreign magazines in Ghana, Liberia, Canada, India, USA, Kenya, among others.
She is a passionate writer and a graduate of Estate Management.
1 comment
A little rationality lifts the quality of the debate here. Thanks for cobntituring!