The Monster And The Empty Promises Poem by Babatunde Idowu Ebenezer

It was Olufunmi who saw him first,
When she was out to gather firewood,
For the evening crab soup,
That never contain crab.
And so she went and saw him.

Racing back home with a speed of an eagle that never run.
Her Nightingale voice, everywhere was heard.


Monster! Monster! Monster!


So we all rushed to the field to take a look.
There in the field alright was a monster.
Big and round like Iya Idowu's Mortal,
Faceless, big headed and long tailed.
But he stood like a man.

By my right,
Akinwale holding tight to his mother's wrapper.
Oluremi was in tears,
Oladiipo was on top of a tree for safety.
Folake and Folashade were tightly shutting their eyes,
Watching a monster is not a game for girls.
Only Danueli, the boy from the city could stand free,
Father said, like all city people,
He had sold his fear for bread and butter,
Whatever bread and butter are I dont know,
But I do know,
Father was right,
The boy is never afraid.

Then the monster spoke,
And like a man he did,
His voice like that of the towncrier.
And to my surprise,
The frightened people responded.

'You are suffering my people,
It shows in your face,
Hunger is in your village,
Poverty is in your doorsteps,
Even in your border,
I could smell it.
Why are you suffering like this? '


'He is not only a monster,
He is out of his mind too.'


'Say what you would like to say,
But one thing I know,
Is that I am here for you,
To take away your sufferings.'


'Hey, here comes our saviour.'

'Yes I will be your saviour,
I will feed you and your children,
I will provide you electricity,
Tap water, smooth roads,
Free drugs and education.
You shall have everything in abundance,
If you would vote for me in the coming elections.'

'For you and you alone we will cast our votes.'