Unconventional Poem by Alade Abayomi Idris

For coming from this part of the world
Where what we hoped for, were things of the past for others in Europe;
Where the future we craved for, is the present that the Americans lived in;
Where the education we never had, is an elementary curriculum for kids in China;
I have learnt to cope and become friends with anomalies
In other to excel.

For coming from this part of the world
I have learnt to smile in crying situations,
I have learnt the use of other energies when my body is down with hunger
I have learnt to feel at ease with acrimonious pains
Just to excel.

For coming from this part of the world
I have learnt to beat death at its own favourite game,
Become strong in sickness,
And forge ahead in the bushes of existence
In other to excel.

For coming from this part of the world
Where convention is not conventional
You have to find an unconventional way to become whatever
You want to be
Otherwise you would ended up becoming the poor
That our poverty stricken nation wanted you to be.