Died in Ignorance
I like adding life to lifeless lives that is why I cannot do without creative writing, because it is a way of touching some hopeless lives
Salmonella (Bacteria) under microscope
He was a stammer
Given birth to by
Poor parents. They lived
In abject poverty.
The abject poverty in
Which they live in
Could not allow the
Marriage to be sustained.
When he was ten
Going to eleven years
Of age, his parents
divorced themselves
His academics was paused
He was sent to
Live with his cousin
Who promised to take care of him
Contrary to expectations the
Cousin could not take
Care of him. For the
Cousin was also poor
And had wished things
Would change for family
But it did not change.
He was at a fix.
He could not endure
What he was passing
Through again and he
Left his cousin’s place
Taken his life in
His hands. Hoping to
Find God’s mercies somewhere,
Someday and somehow
He left for the
Biggest city in the
Land where they said
Opportunities abound to try his luck
He started sleeping in
Uncompleted buildings. There he
Met some people and
He joined their trade.
He became a vendor
Like they are. He
Started combining the work
With laborer to be freed
He hoped to break
The yoke of poverty
On him. What he
Was doing couldn’t change him
Then he wonders, how
People receive favor according
To the movies he
Used to watch. His reasoning
Was that those movies
Were the imaginations of
The “imaginers” they were
Not real as he had thought
For had they been
Real, he ought to have
Met with someone who
Would come to his aid
In this position was
He, couldn’t dream of
Marriage, because cannot feed
Himself, how would he be married
Met he with an
Old woman who has
Been disturbing her daughter
To get married
This woman’s daughter was
Learned an executive in
One of the establishments
In the land.
She on seeing him
Try to know more
About him for his
Character suggests he is humble
After finding out the
Needful about him, decides
To bring him and her
Daughter together peradventure she would like him
They developed affinity for
Each other and started
Seeing. While seeing the
Lady wants him educated
Promised to sponsor his
Education if could be
Married to him. They
Got married and things seem good
However, the man did
Not want his wife to
Sponsor him to school
Because of the cultural beliefs
That husband should be
Providing for the family
In his case he
Cannot for his family.
Friends talked to him
About this, that he
Should consider it miracle
Of God, that he had hoped for
Being married to educated
And blessed lady like
Her is a miracle
None among his peers was that favored
He would not yield
Had to leave home
Because it was bought
By his wife.
Still loved by his
Wife she was still
Sending money to him
To support his work
While not with his
Wife, he got infected
With salmonella thyphi and
Came down with symptoms of typhoid
Would not open up
To wife because he
Did not want to
Go to her for medical assistance
When the pain was
Becoming unbecoming for him
That was when he
Intimated his wife about
His condition. His wife
Rushed to his place
To see him but
It was too late
The damage has been
Done to his systems
Because the bacteria have
Perforated his intestines
Other systems have been
Compromised. He couldn’t stand
It. And would die
Few hours on the hospital bed.
© 2020 OLUSEGUN
Comments
OLUSEGUN (author) from NIGERIA on April 03, 2020:
ok. Thanks. I got it.
Kyler J Falk from California on April 02, 2020:
Just to give you the converse situation, it is always safest to expand upon what you say but in shortening it out you could try replacing "Uhm" with "Hmm, interesting!"
The semantics of the English language are extremely complex, often leading to great confusion even among native speakers, but there are always "safer" ways to express sentiments.
OLUSEGUN (author) from NIGERIA on April 02, 2020:
Wow! I appreciate this word of correction sir. It is not used negatively neither in the offensive manner in my culture. I am sorry, if I have injured your spirit by this.
I now know how to use such for people in the advanced climes now. I am really grateful for pointing this out to me. It is well taken now. And would be used appropriately for people in advanced countries.
Thanks. I appreciate sir.
Kyler J Falk from California on April 02, 2020:
Ah, perhaps it is a difference between our cultures. To lead in with "uhm" in my culture is a way to signal something was unwanted, uncomfortable, offensive, creepy, or otherwise generally off-putting.
"Uhm, thanks." specifically, in my culture, is the equivalent of saying "Please stop talking and go away."
OLUSEGUN (author) from NIGERIA on April 02, 2020:
No sir, your comment was lifting, it was, is and will in no way be seen as offensive by anyone globally, not now, not ever. I said "uhm", to show your deep insight into the article.
Kyler J Falk from California on April 02, 2020:
Pardon me, but did my compliment offend or was I mistaken about the underlying meaning? I did not mean to be ignorant, nor did I mean to offend. Enlighten me if that is the case, please.
OLUSEGUN (author) from NIGERIA on April 02, 2020:
@Kyler J Falk uhm. Thanks.
Kyler J Falk from California on April 02, 2020:
Wow, what a painful tale of pride and stubbornness. Had he only dropped that pride, that stubbornness born of stern culture....
Tragic story within these lines.
