THE RETIREE

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My father’s virility was
yanked off the vein of
his youth, and spread
as manure on the soil
of our land!

From his wrinkled brows
beads of sweat mixed with blood
from his blistered palms
flowed like gushing water from the sky
to nourish the seeds on our land!

Tireless and sleepless night
of hard work form the bed
where the seedlings are laid:
in the classrooms, hospitals
vigilante groups and et al
All nourish and fill the barns of my clime

On and onward he xerox’ around
24/7 round the clock,from the sun’s rising and setting
For 365 days round the orbit
his toils fuelled the economy’s wheels

And now that he’s without strength
retirement beckons to give reprieve
a reprieve that is itself a threat to livelihood
as his benefits comes in delayed bits!

This is the plight of pensioners!

Written by: Jon Manuels Enekele
Edited by: Kukogho Iruesiri Samson