Wednesday 21 September 2011

On The Edge of Affluence

I wrote this while on 3rd Mainland Bridge, inspired by the thoughts of what could possibly be going through the minds of the inhabitants of Makoko, those shanties on the river just before you get to the island. What do they really aspire to? They live just on the edge of affluence, just next to one of the most expensive locations in Africa. Recently read in a magazine, some of the island dwellers, visiting Makoko to hand out food and second hand clothes. While noble, these do not empower them for a future.  The futility of these short sighted gestures must be maddening.This poem tries to view the situation through the eyes of a Makoko child. Enjoy.




I see them come and go,
 yet in my mind I know.

Though they come looking meek,
 my future still is bleak.

Perhaps its to calm their ailing hearts,
they give us all their little grants.

The poverty which eats me is a monster,
 nothing could be more sinister.

Not words, or food, or fake comforts,
but hope, a future, my comfort.

I see them come and go,
 yet in my mind I know.

Pic: Google Images

Pic: allphotolondon.com

11 comments:

  1. Awww... Thanks a lot for your kind comment Niniola! Means a lot to me!

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  2. I Love your Poem :* :* :-D
    That's my sistser

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  3. Love your Poem :* :* :-D
    That's my sister !!!
    @folushor :-)

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  4. Keep it up. You sure have a lot to get really poetic about.

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  5. She feels the chill
    She laments the brutal fate of the poor
    Who live in the face of abundance

    But is such lamentation justified?
    We may never know
    But she must know this...

    Riches is as glorified as it is chaotic
    We see the applauds
    But not the lonely soul starring at his emptiness at night
    when his praise singers have all departed

    Poverty is no vice
    While the inhabitants of Makoko may have no wealth
    They surely have peace, and at night...
    They do not suffer from emptiness
    Because there is nothing else left to loose.

    © Mitterand (2011)

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  6. Nice conscious effort...keep it up

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  7. Nice conscious effort...keep it up

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  8. Many thanks, @folushor, for d support.

    Mitt, wow! Thanks for the insightful comment! Will keep u guys updated! Love!

    Perfection Redefined

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  9. Korede, thanks for your comment and the points you raised during our discussion, I sure will do my best.

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  10. aww doyin dis z so nice.. thumbz up babes :* jojophina

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