Unimportant

Was in a car in Nigeria driving to Lagos at about 5:30am, was bored so I looked out the window and realised the extent to which these people hustle, and how insignificant my problems were when compared with theirs. . .short but meaningful hope you enjoy it








I looked from my left to my right,

in fact on both sides

the sights are the same

identical plights

nobodies asleep,hunger opens eyes,

only when lacked, is money truly on one's mind

and moneys truly on their minds,

every single one of them,

the shadowy rejects of a defective government

unpleasant,oh yes, but that's life.

Out here, where people work to death to make a living

ironic shoes an atheist would pray to never fit in,

brain freeze , the thought alones chilling

of a life with no balance, adverse to equilibrium

where what,sown is a lot more than what reaped

and what ,reaped is a lot less than what sown

far from average, they conquer the maze

set all set backs ablaze,and find hope.

..............................................

Poverty's eschewal ,and that I respect

despite situations,dejection they refuse to except

And so they work.Hard.

under the resentment of the sun

beating harder upon their backs with no exceptions for the young

who,sweat laced,would rejoice in making ,our minimum wage

3 pounds 68 per hour, in half a month

in fact the other day,I bought a pack of water from..

well.......practically a baby

bet she couldn't read but damn she new what her change was

A true Naija hustler,yeah that's what I'll call them

this poems a celebration of those who aren't heard of,

and if heard of, are thought of,as unimportant

those Nigerians that would do anything just to sell

there motivations ,not Rowland but desperation

in attempt to make light the proposed darkness of their future destinations

and provide better chances for their future generations 

but its far from easy,when juggling a minimal gain occupation,

so there's no time for patience,these people need money and need it fast

you could call it the diamond trade cause Nigerians hustle hard

hold up .. . . . . ponder for a moment,

You might just feel bad for ever feeling bad

because the worst of your problems would probably be the best they've ever had

True Naija hustlers, yeah that's what I'll call them,

This poems a celebration of those who aren't heard of ,

and if heard of , are thought of,as unimportant.





By Shaquille Ofili-Dowdy