I rise to a world draped in darkness,
Another power outage, as is customary.
The cool of dawn can’t vanquish the room’s heat.
I trudge to the bath, GSM phone in hand,
A makeshift torch in the gloom.
I wash and brush, frugal with every drop,
Though I know I’ll have to spend today.
I must groom myself to face the world,
But my wallet’s barren and banks are shut.
Yesterday’s ATM hunt was fruitless,
And today I can only count seven hundred naira.
Like the widow of the Bible, I must venture out,
Putting my faith in hope and prayer.
But as I check my messages on WhatsApp,
A new dread takes hold, a thief to be caught.
We may not be able to transfer anything tomorrow.
Yet still, I must persist and persevere.
I’ll go out with all I have and make do,
Surviving on sheer grit and determination.
I’m a Nigerian, and resilience is my middle name.
In this struggle, I’ll thrive and overcome.