by Okanlawon Steven

On the dusty old path

He subconsciously swayed home

In the darkest hour of the night,

The moon hung up high

While the whole village slept

He pounded on his door, ‘’…that witch has locked me out again!”

 

The door flung open

With a “welcome” from his lad

“Oh no! Papa is drunk again!”

“Where is everyone?”

“Where is my food?”

“Where is that witch and why did she lock the door?”

He thundered the compound awake

 

It was surely going to be a long night

They stared piteously at one another

Each one with several scars, born on days like this

“Whose turn would it be today? For papa is drunk again.”

“You dare serve me a cold meal, even the soup is too salted’’

‘’All this after locking me out, you witch…”

 

He pounced on his poor wife,

Pummelling his words into her

There stood the entire household,

Watching helplessly as the children cry

Who dare approach him in his paroxysm?

The children ran to their neighbours

 

“Please help, Papa is drunk again!”

Wailing, weeping and shouting raped the atmosphere’s serenity

Only a nosy neighbour came in,

Not to help but to watch

Others did not find it new

 

But it was not like other episodes,

This time he snuffed life out of his wife,

Neighbours regretted they didn’t help

And the children remained at his mercy,

Forever to say, “Papa is drunk again.”

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Okanlawon Steven is a fresh sociology graduate of the prestigious University of Ibadan. He likes reading, writing, making friends, swimming, reading and more reading. I have written more than 90 poems, countless articles and about 5 short stories.

30 Days, 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija