Danfo

We had travelled through the dust
Zigzagged across the same road
Like a rattle snake
Weary from the poison of the sun
The sultry dance stops suddenly

Oya ebole ebole
The end had come before the end
Nna clutch no dey work
Oya give us our change o
Conductor…conductor….

My feet kiss the muddy earth
I cringe at the cold wetness
Mud mixed with cloud saliva
It’s all coming together

Another rattler for another destination
He kept insisting he wouldn’t take that seat
They were celestial in their white garments
He was different
He carried a bible
He didn’t wear their sultana

I didn’t see them coming
But they did anyway
Like uninvited guests
His index and middle finger
Pointed like a gun
Shielded secretly by the cloak of darkness
Searching for something?
Maybe he was

They came again
Those dreadful fingers
On my breasts
He was hoping to get lucky
Maybe grab a nipple and pinch away
My torch came on
It’s a crazy world I tell you
Crazy world

Would you please take your hands off…
Off where?
The pious voice against mine
Who would have believed?
It’s a crazy world
©Toyin Odewunmi , 2009