YOUR RELATIONS

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Image from Google 


When your shelter was beneath the flyover
And there you slept in the cold without pullover
When the street was your place of home
And you stood in it to roam
When you were the most common labourer
And you were a kid's messenger
When water was your only food
And nothing seemed to be good
It looked like you had no relations
Who would give you provisions
Now you no longer have the pain of poverty
And you rejoice everyday in prosperity
Just then you see them coming around
And their words fill the whole ground
They narrate what your mum never told you
How they advised your dad to believe in you
They tell you their positions in your family
And praise you that you act morally
"My father is your uncle's cousin"
"My mother gave your mother a Christmas chicken"
"Your uncle is my nephew's brother"
Any of these you don't even remember
Instead you are full of doubt
'Cause back when there was no way out
You did not know any relation
You ate nothing to your satisfaction
So now wonders fall on you
Dear, life has just revealed itself to you
People see you only when you are lifted up
And then your relations will definitely show up

(c)  Juwon Osanipin

 An excerpt from my book, LIFE (A collection of poems in facts) 

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