Poetry

By

Ngozi Olivia Osuoha

Tales Of The Illfated Pensioner

Poor, yet over-delayed salary

Unpaid allowances, forgotten arrears

No incentives, hard labour

Used, abused, misused, disposed

Haggard, hungry, gored and bored

Bugged, abandoned and overstretched;

Service, a blessing or curse?

Sane, sound, sincere and sensitive

Diligent, dedicated and delightful

Truthful, trustworthy and thoughtful

Committed, cautious and courteous

Respectful, responsible and reasonable

Lively, loyal and law abiding

Humble, humane and harmonious

Punctual, peaceful and protective

Regular, resilient and resourceful

What went wrong?

No shelter of his own

No balanced meal,

Unclean water, unsafe environment

Not even a bicycle

Deteriorating, dwindling and ageing

Timid vicinity, crude community

Is service a crime?

Unpaid pensioners, unemployed children

Retarded passions, stunted visions

Frustrated dreams, crushed talents

Dashed hopes, dimmed future

Wishing he was unmarried and childless

Like his colleagues who had it rougher.

A boundless pain

Slumping on verification queues

Bedridden, dejected and rejected

Dying, a miserable pauper

Undignifying, so ungodly a culture

Bound a people, cruel a world

Wasted, unyielding, so regretful a labour;

The height of cruelty on patriots.

Ngozi Olivia Osuoha

Ngozi Olivia Osuoha is a young writer from Nigeria. From a family of eight, including both parents she is the second daughter but fourth child. She read Estate Management and has some experience in Banking and Broadcasting.

She has published some works in a Liberian magazine, Ghanian news platform and an Indian poetry publication.

Many of her works have gone abroad for evaluation and publication. She wrote the longest poems/rhymes in the world, yet to be published. Writing is life.