Dem say
if money land,
wahala go pack go.
So we run
leg no touch ground
chase paper wey no get breath.
Now account don fat,
but sleep don slim.
Bed soft like cloud,
yet mind hard like stone.
Na so paradise start
dey leak.
Dem say
na love be the medicine
the final bus stop of loneliness.
So we open chest
like market stall,
display heart like tomatoes.
Person come,
carry everything,
even the basket join.
Now we dey hug shadow,
call am “forever.”
Love full ground,
but peace no gree stay.
Na so paradise start
dey itch.
Dem say
build house
make your name get address.
So we pile brick on brick,
stack pride reach heaven gate.
Gate tall pass humility,
fence strong pass friendship.
But inside
silence loud like siren.
Room plenty,
but laughter scarce.
Na so paradise start
dey echo.
Dem say
fame na light
e go make you visible.
So we burn our privacy
take shine for strangers.
Crowd clap,
camera smile,
name dey trend like harmattan fire.
But when night come,
darkness still sabi your name.
Everybody know you,
but nobody sabi you.
Na so paradise start
dey blind.
Dem say
power na control
say if you hold am,
life go obey you.
So we climb,
step on shoulders,
turn people to ladder.
At the top
air thin,
trust thinner.
You fit command crowd,
but you no fit command peace.
Na so paradise start
dey shake.
So tell me
which kain Eden be this
wey fruit dey sweet for mouth
but bitter for soul?
We pluck, we chew, we smile,
but something inside
dey always ask:
“Na this be all?”
Wahala no dey outside.
E dress like blessing,
enter like prayer,
sit down like answer.
Before you know
paradise don full
with quiet suffering.