Eyeball of Acrimony

This poem was inspired by a real life affrighting encounter I once had on the street of a city in Nigeria. That experience hit me hard and opened my eyes to the temerity of ethnic divide.

It was a sunny afternoon
A walk of some sort
down the street of a peculiar city,
an NYSC moment.

A slight turn down the road
brought me to her.
She didn't know me
but I saw hate,
sore contempt in her eyes;
even thought it was my ice.

She glared way down into my eyes
and muttered hateful words.
I looked at her,
mortified.
I and my chum walked down the street,
terrified.

My only offence?
I had a pointed nose and looked northern.
A dead giveaway.

Author's Note

(This poem was inspired by a real life affrighting encounter I once had on a street in Nigeria. That experience hit me hard and opened my eyes to the temerity of ethnic divide)