Person wey no enta maket no go know how
maize take enter beans, tomato wey rotti
na’im women sabi rush now
dem say to belleful naim matta pass.
Small pikin wey shout ‘pure water’ now now
you go see am shout ‘mineral’ later. Beggar
don change location taya
but im plate still empty – things hard kpa!
Like stone wey enta engine wen Kunle dey
grind maize, things hard!
na’im make papa Emeka put hand for chin
since morning
maket never sell, people talk say things cost.
Na so things hard for country, our money don
dey like tissue paper
small water, e don loss – pure water ma na
twenty naira
person wey drink water no fit drop cup.
Enta maket, you go see say money wey papa
or mama send pikin dey like gas
If im no hol am tight, e go vanish for air.
Enta maket, you go know say hunger no be
person mate, small quarrel
Pesin eye don red, wrapper don tear.
Pesin wey no enta maket no go know how
maize take enta beans, but nowadays
measuring cup no dey full again, maize wey
dey enta beans don go holiday.

Kelechukwu Samuel Ojile studies Pure and Industrial Chemistry in the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka at the time. He is a creative/content writer, graphic designer and teacher. His writings explores the connectedness of man regardless of race, sex and geography. His works can be read on PoeticAfrica (Journey), Litround magazine, Rough Diamond poetry (November), There Was a Man and Arrows of Words (both; anthologies in honour of Chinua Achebe) and elsewhere. He was first runner-up in the Benue Prize Short Stories, 2020 and second runner-up in the Charles
Wesley Poetry Prize, 2021.