Ibiang Ayei
@ayeiibiang080407
1 year ago

CAN WE BE HUMANS?

Integrity is a rare commodity that's hard to
find on the black market;
the alleys, not accustomed to such legitimacy
Backstreets, a harbour for the
light fingered;
terminals perfectly meet for piracy
Bureau de change of gold for stone, a swap
of virtues for vices
Compassion bartered for sheer sadism, a case of
mere compromises

So show me an honest man who factors in conscience to prices?
Whose scales aren't padded with weights on
one side,
whose passion and drive got their license?
Who doesn't binge on the brew of peasant tears,
for everytime that inflation rises;
who grants respite, and is generously given to subsidizes
Show me such a man?

Show me a man who extends his hands to
the poor;
whose elbows are greased, no arthritis
Who considers service a priority than the pomp
and pride of formalities
Whose eyes also tear at the news of mortalities;
who knows when to step down the
rungs of power,
and where the button of retire is
Who doesn't withhold that pension from the
frail hands of retirees
- an empath with the torch,
I bet you know he knows where the fire is

So can we be humans?
Creatures beyond blood, skin and bones;
beyond anatomy
A family devoid of prejudices; brothers still,
despite one being borne of another tummy;
Siblings coexisting beyond the guile of race
and tribe;
beyond the narrow divide of tongues
Different stems but same root; a tree of one
dad with just different mums

I wish for once
we could try to show our humanity:
Lending a hand without expecting a purse?
Being a channel of blessing instead of
being a curse
Caring genuinely without having to be a nurse
Walking in the shoes of others to really
know it hurts
For real, can we just be humans after all?


***




Written by: Ibiang, Ayei Okoi
Wednesday, 15th March, 2023.
6:56pm
#Aï
#Nirclestories
#Poetry