IF LAGOS KNEW
(for Abulatan Wuraola)

If Lagos knew, its streets sing a saner song
In the hearts of those whose tunes an orchestra never loses beat to
The roads wouldn’t rage with the anger of hustlers in BRTs, kekes and danfos
Swearing, sweating in hope for a slice of the Island’s promise.
It wouldn’t grind all to its slow pace or halt time for folks whose foreheads fold into waves of worries as adrenaline increases several thoughts raised from internal pain as they try to escape the sun’s whip
lucky folks shielded in moving tents filled with gases that purr noiselessly bringing the harmattan to closed chambers on another hot noon…

If Lagos knew, even if the chaos were gathering from Ajegunle to Ikotun
or overt poshness descending from the Island to Maryland
there would be that pause for the wind to dance across the skies
leaving imprints of colours and shapes in cones and candles
for the waves to dance across the waters in claps and hurrahs
for the beautiful tapestry seen from Third Mainland to be rearranged
and that beauty captured by several lenses to be seen in a new light,
the sun kissing her belly in million sparkles,
those boats in proper formation.

If Lagos knew, it would change, if only for one moment
to breath in deep in awe of this nativity
Bethlehem slept but Lagos hustles on another sunny day.
And as another placenta gets buried
Eko’s beauty is crafted in the sound of another infant cry.

AUTHOR: Su’eddie Vershima Agema born in Lagos State of Nigeria on 20 January in the 1980s.



SOURCE
https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/02/04/naija-poetry-35-if-lagos-knew/