Hope Of My Dreams

I sometimes let go of myself and savour the joy of my daydreams

The joy of knowing that things can only get better is always sweet

Even though the angry and sharp pangs of today’s hunger bite bitterly

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true

Empty pockets make one think that having pizza is waste of money

But if I can’t buy all the things I want, let me afford the ones I need at least

Let me accept that garri and rice are both starch instead of change of diet

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true

I am definitely going to have the best woman in the world for a wife

She is going to be so tender, very caring and absolutely loving

That missing rib that is the bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true

Though I lack spare shoes and the ones I have now are so worn out

I have lived uncomfortably in the only clothes I have for many years

Being at daggers drawn with my landlord over rent must surely stop

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true

I am not lazy, but wouldn’t mind working with ease of mind

Who’s not tired of working their fingers to the bones for peanuts?

Getting a little more than I can ever get in wages won’t kill me

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true

I won’t be too greedy to ask for a skyscraper or something better

But if such are the cherries of my toil, I won’t reject them either

For a roof over my head keeps worries of wetness and shine away

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true

I dream of a better tomorrow; to wipe away the bitter tears of today

God is really good must come to everybody’s mind when they see me

It is this hope that has kept me believing in those lovely dreams

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true

an Emeka Amakeze poetic expression

How We Voted

We had no choice but to believe their promises
To build bridges even where rivers don't exist
Largely because our votes never really counted

They wailed their opponents won by cheating
We watched them threaten to go to court
But we thugged and carried ballot boxes for them

We needed the money because we were hungry
They wanted the ballot boxes to plunder
And when nothing comes our way we wonder

They told us to trust and follow them; we did
From one political party and camp to another
Necking with those we had fought because of them

Quick to tell us billions have been ear-marked
We're not meant to know how it's pocket-marked
But we've learnt to believe when we eye-mark

Register now to vote

Youths Of My Age

"wasted generation", "irresponsible", "lazy" are least of the names that youths of my time have been forced to bear in my country. They are blamed for anything that goes wrong.

So has is it been in my time; an age where many cannot afford western education and are still inundated with "if education is expensive, try ignorance" by those that went to school either on scholarships or community efforts.

Majority of the youths of my age roam the streets armed with their first class and second class certificates, worn out shoes and threadbare suits looking for the much promised but non-existent jobs. 

"Employment for all by the year 2008, 2015, 2020" no longer mean anything to them. They are told that education is the key yet they have had more doors slammed in their faces than they can remember. Defying hunger and frustration, some still stand tall in salute to the dignity of man. Yet they are termed "unresourceful" by those who were offered jobs, cars, houses even before they finished their degree exams.

The burden of expectation has been too much for some and they fell by the wayside of armed robbery, prostitution, fraud and other vices but my SALUTE goes to all of you who have despite all odds, risen to touch that silver lining in their cloud of uncertain future and resolved to be rallying points for others and a beacon of hope to the rest.

Emeka Amakeze writes