Tuesday Poem by Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

My Landlady’s Niece Wants a Ring

My landlady’s niece wants a ring
Because, well, I don’t know
Because of that night’s laughter
Because of that weekend
Because of forever after

My landlady’s niece wants a ring
Because I kissed her
Because I squeezed the pair
Because two fingers moistened
Made her gasp for air

My landlady’s niece wants a ring
Because I made her moan
Because we had one for the road
Because of rounds untold
Because she wants me for her own

My landlady’s niece won’t get a ring
Because no woman no pregnant
Because we are now past tense
Because it was one-or-six nights only
Because I’m betrothed to the English sentence

My landlady’s niece will get a ring
Because I’m not jobless
Because I can manage
Because—last, last—this is Lagos
And I don’t want to be homeless.

______

Oris Aigbokhaevbolo tweets from @catchoris. He is an essayist, Nollywood film critic and winner of the 2015 All Africa Music Award for Entertainment Journalism.