They say the big bedroom upstairs
Is filled with special food
That will last a life time
For we rats.
We have been chewing
Old magazines and books,
But now they say
The big bedroom upstairs
Is filled with fine paper
Stamped with faces of heroes,
That we can nibble at
Whenever we wish.
When the Owner comes
To fetch a bunch
We scuttle away
With scraps in our mouth.
When his children come
To steal their share
We scuttle away
And watch from our hole.
A young rat told us
Behind closed doors
That the papers are
Not really food but
Two billion money sheets
For some millions of
Aged human beings.
I pity the young rat.
So young and he decides
To destroy his life with
So much reading and thinking.
Whatever happened to
Being a simple rat?
They say the big bedroom upstairs
Is filled with special food
That will last a life time
For we rats.
We will continue nibbling
Till the papers
Stamped with human heroes
Somehow leave the room.
Beautiful piece as usual.I could not help but empathize with those pensioners whose money is been eaten by rats in houses of government officials.I like the reference to the inquisitive young rat- He does not want to be like the other simple rats.We thank him for revealing the secrets.
Well crafted poem that reveals the rot in our socio-political realm.Thank you for sharing.
Thanks @sambrightomo, you are too kind with words! And beautiful interpretation there.
Beautiful piece. I loved it.
Much thanks @ohmston
wonderful piece. all these rats sef, na serious case o, na so dem dey chop paper with human hero face everywhere. where otapiapia sef?
Hehehe @clemency, na dem we go blame?
Am still loving it.
Glad you are @shadiat, thanks for that.
Respect!
Much thanks @kaycee.
@chemokopi na who we go come blame?
Hehehe…the owner and im children nko @clemency?
And I no even thank you for take commend my work. Thank you welu well @clemency! I appreciate.
The thoughtfulness behind this poem is simply amazing, and I like the analogy, and the language in general.
Awww…how kind of you @Myne to pen such words. Thanks a lot, I do appreciate.
I didn’t get it until I got the ‘when his children come, to steal their share’ part. That’s when it clicked. You buried some thought-provoking ideas behind simple words. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
@sharonwrites: Thank you very much for your kind words. I try to write simple poems that are nonetheless deep, so everyone can access them at some level. I am encouraged and glad you enjoyed it.
@chemokopi na true sef dose ones sef dey
@chemokopi, i should be the one thanking you.
@clemency: Merci. (as @shaifamily would say)
@chemokopi I see you!
Nice stuff, you hear?
@shaifamily: irayo!
meaning o? @chemokopi
@shaifamily: ‘irayo’ is a na’vi word that means ‘Thank you’ in English. Your ‘I see you’ inspired my ‘irayo’.
de nada @chemokopi
You this guy…
You just know how to weave powerful metaphors and symbolisms into poetic lines.
Thumbs up for you…
I know there is depth in this poem…its apparently heavy with meaning.
Nicely written!
@afronuts: Thanks a lot man. Your words make me smile and yearn to do better. Thanks again!
@chemokopi: you used those imageries so well that I just comprehend you right from the beginning..a very subtle way to convey a theme. That’s Poetry!
Hmm!
The RATS are the opportunist who jumped at every opportunity to squander our PAPER..Great work sir
@shomyk: You can imagine! I have never written a poem that has such multiple interpretations from people. Thanks for making the poem shine–you are too kind!
We improve together.
Hehehehehehehehe.
I refrain from stating the obvious.
I do think though…that for there to be that many rats in a ‘billionaire’s’ house…maybe he’s not so rich after all.
Something’s not right with that picture.
Exactly @Seun-Odukoya! You bring another potent interpretation. For example a civil servant steals so much money and hides it in his modest house in the staff quarters he lives…infested with rats. You have probably heard of ‘money miss road’ and catch-22. Can’t move out cos you will be found out even though you have tons of cash…and rats in the basement.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
@chemokopi, rats are really interesting people to write about (permit my use of personalisation here). I am still laughing.
Hehehe…I don’t only permit; I appreciate @febidel.
Thanks for reading and commenting.