₦airaland Forum

Bright lights, highrise, everything that makes this life
you're so full of life, more beautiful than even I can account
You got your bad side, but your beauty blinds my eye
your streets of no sleep, that cultural jam

you bid me explore every bit of you, and each part I studied
wanted to lurk around your islands, and you never kept me at bay
showed me how to play around your centre without going too deep
taught me to have fun on the mainland without getting carried away

Thought I'd always awake to mornings with you by my side
cuddle up each other watching that orange September sunrise
then came the cranes, built those towering luxury estates
now my view is a slab of concrete, its shadow where once you lay.

You're a woman o' class you belong with your own kind
a society chick, always Zizi Cardow and Mon Ami clad
my finance thinned too light to keep your romance
sorry I must forfeit you to some Alhaji or Otunba


Farewell Las Gidi, I sure will miss you so
so long my rough cut beauty, you’re all I've ever known.


And I know you love me, you're crazy 'bout my style
you feel my rhyme, that blend of thug and calm
you love my voice vibing o’er your phone lines
still you never throw back so I put a hold on all that

Tell me the craziest city, I'll show you Las Gidi
ask me a world wonder, I'll take you where I've been.
Your soft ocean breeze, the tune across your waves,
cool for that soul ease, but 937 was what had me hooked.

Lebanese, Chinese, Indian and European, been with so many men,
so you treat me like dirt, yet I love you more than all them
captured me with your charm, entangled in your web
where once was love, had to keep hope in its stead

Ibo, Fulani, Yoruba and Tiv, all did your doorbell ring
in a of mix of tension, carefree, will and uncertainty
they all tried and none you ever could denied his dream
not one ever did ask and you thought to mention me.


Farewell Las Gidi, I’ve made my mind to leave
goodbye my queen, I served with all the steel of me.


Not that I didn't want you that bad, not that I didn't try
you know my hustle is art, can't fit in a nine-to-five
others peddled their smith to banks, me well, I write
Not that I couldn't explain, but you'd never understand.

sometimes you made me money, most times you got me broke
showed me all I never seen before; life like I never knew it was
but by and by the years have crept and my heart chose not to know
yet I have to prove all them critics wrong, I should move on.

I'd love my kids at your bosom, wish I'd be the one to wife thee
imagine the cute little rug rats street-smart e'en as babies
still I beg you let me go, where I lead you won't follow
my house could never be your home, your story's not my own.

been around the world, through the motherland and beyond
seen lifestyles, seen peoples and cultures home and abroad
just to be with you, I put myself through it all
lo, it's saddens my soul to see your heart is mine no more


Farewell Las Gidi, our final words are spoke, I have to go
Take care my Lagos sisi, wish you the best of luck.


Got me VIP passes to the best clubs and coolest gigs
then the money waxed low, all your friends turned foes
and you started to notice my distance from my goals
so you traded what you had for what you needed the most

Used to show me the streets, grew me up in your own way
read me your book o' tricks, even gave me my best lay
now I’d turned a pest suddenly where I'd been a special guest
my warm reception replaced with the look of " what you want?"


The nights got later, the cars flashier, only highest bidder
The Naira gave to dollars, then cheques and bank drafts
Slowly your veil uncovers and you true colours become
when you cried it flooded, when you smiled it burned

your bustle was my warmth, your struggle my war
we dreamed and rarely did so lots is forever left untouched
much is left to say but when you call still I'm so unsure
Au revoir m’amour, I’ve done all that I could

Maybe someday when we're older, we'll find each other
perhaps when you're through with your many lovers
I guess you’d be free to make out some time
for now I've packed all my worries in my hiking bag


Farewell Las Gidi, I've loved you with all my heart
but I hate that I love you even more than my hometown.

@drrionelli


The kind of anthology I'd want my poems in is something that I hope would be used in high schools made in decades to come. The very best of the best. I don't believe just myself and hansibone can do it. We need between 10 - 20 contributor of works. Some may submit 1, some may submit 5, but it should be the very best poetry any young group of Nigerians has to offer for a while to come.

It's beyond two guys putting together a couple of applauded poems. We need more poets.



@hansibone


"Farewell Las Gidi" is now officially posted.

@all

Thanks people, I do my best. Pidgin English is my lingua franca, but funny enough, you wouldn't believe i started speaking pidgin english at about age 16. By my tenth anniversary of speaking pidgin  though, I realised that it was a more carefully structured language than we care to take notice of. That was when I began my study of this language and it has been a very wonderful experience.

Ehen, no shaking my people, na my internet bad so man pickin no be say I bone Nairaland O!


Lesson to be continued after a thorough revision of my previous posts. Meanwhile I still have something I posted in pidgin and I'm reading something else by a friend. I'll post dem if the interlude gets too long.