not just
hot air
and gaseous
exchanges

Like it or not
there is oil there
(not in the hills)
but offshore

we are so told
by our emperor
who got a late-night
minister’s phone-call
(is that active citizenry)

Like it or not
a multi-national will
be doing us in
one time more
in the usual way

we who are the
proverbial
begging bowl
African or otherwise

(what were we
plundered captured
gangster-pressed
for again)

Like it or not
that is the state
of our young nation
going into the next
revolutionary stage

unbundled
in all its glory
many a promise
for all to see

(we are transparent
there’s no wall here
to save us from ourselves)

Like it or not