AREN\\\'T WE ALL MAD?

I came across a mad man one cold evening in my journey through life

Seated by the road side and lost in thought one cannot imagine

Then I asked, how do you do mad man?

But I got no reply, as he was busy writing to the soil in alphabets I couldn't read.

In-between, he was talking silently and humming the melodies of sweet madness to himself.

Just when I thought he didn't get me and was about to ask again

He raised his head up to stare at me and said, I am mad, referring to himself.

I was baffled by his reply, because it wasn't what I expected.

I knew he was insane already, but hoped that just maybe he will tell me he was fine.

As if reading my thoughts, he cuts in shortly in a calm voice.

I could tell you that I am fine, but will that satisfy you?

Can you tell when an insane person is happy or sad without concluding that it is an act of insanity for the day?

Can you tell why he cries, when you watches tears flow from his eyes?

Can you tell why Timaya the popular mad man in Wurukum or wherever you might have seen him is always dancing with or without musical sound?

No, I said.

That is the sweetness of madness and it's known only to him or rather us. He replied.

He seemed to be of your supposed sane world going insane, but his spirit dwells in the generation of the mad republic. Where as his body is here, feeding you with the sound, rhythm and sweet melodies coming from there through his dance steps.

Hmm! I heaved. Deciding within me to listen more, since it seemed the mad also have a say.

You see my child, he called out

And on hearing this, I felt ashamed, for whenever I see an insane person, I see nothing else than abnormality in a world thought normal. I forget to see that he also could be a father or might have been one.

You see my child, he went on. Madness in our present day society is when one took to street naked, shouting and jumping recklessly carefree. Not bathing for decades, picking waste on the dustbin and as time flies develop dreadlocks as a result of unkept hair.

But in my own perspective it is far from that.

Before fate earned me this name (mad man)

I have come across package madness

Living in mansions

Dressed in the best attires worldly designers can offer

I have seen madness in various degrees, scenting nice and looking good in their luxurious lifestyles.

Tell me then, how will the blocks of wealth sorrounding them, let the world see them for who they are, rather than focus their attention on my kind?

Do you understand? He asked.

No, I shock my head in disagreement. And in a minute I discovered I was in for a lecture

Since Asuu has short down Nigerian public Universities for about four months, over federal government's failure to meet up with their demands. What is one to do than to enjoy the moment with the keeper of the street?

Then I squatted down close to him.

Pay attention and listen then son, he went further.

Let's talk about Putin of Russia and Zelenskyy of Ukraine.

Both going into war over fear and reason that Ukraine's desire to join the western defensive alliance NATO Is a threat to her national security among other reasons.

But it's simply the search for power and holding fast unto it no matter what.

Come to think of it, world wars have been fought, lives lost, properties destroyed and the whole world claimed to have reconcile under one body (United Nations) but deep down nothing changes, and all the member countries seats intervally for their meetings covered under the coat of pretence.

Now instead of the friendly handshake Russia and Ukraine used to exchanged, it is now a bullet for two or more.

A missile for missiles, nuclear weapons are been warmed up. Third world war drawing near.

The people dying, lands and properties a mess.

And we have two proclaimed normal men passing orders that harm the common man where as they themselves are under tight security.

Tell me then, is that normal?

Who's mad here? Me? He asked.

Let me bring you back to Nigeria to the farmers herders clashes or who knows, political Lords with their mind games or let's talk about the banditry activities in the country, multiplying by two within just a short while.

Is this also normal? Who's mad here, Me?

How about the followers of Mohammed, the Jihadist to be specific, believing that the only one true religion is islam. And the Christian faithfuls among themselves criticizing one another with each giving a view of what they call the true way God should be worship.

Let me bring you back to the street, with some youths believing in korofo, others odin and what so ever. and they are all willing to give and take another's life for this unclear believes by reasoning.

How about the atheist and the free thinker, painfully looking for answers they can not get to reconcile the disagreement between body and soul

Tell me is that normal? Do you see how divided we are?

Well, the one true religion that I see amidst all of this is the human religion.

And you, he pointed at me.

You are the poet with mix feelings.

Sometimes you are laughing through your lines and when your audience think joy have find you,

You easily break down into sorrowful songs.

On hearing this, I bowed down my head in awe, not knowing what to say.

You think I don't know you? He asked. Well I do.

And as far as I am in concern, you also made a mad man from the very day you wrote your first poem, and must continually go insane unimaginable by others into worlds not visible to some, for each of your piece to be painted.

Tell me now son, aren't we all not mad in our different philosophies?

I couldn't answer him and I stood up quietly to go, and he said one more thing.

If you normal people are not careful in how you look at one another, there will come a time when the mad man's world will be a normal one that all will seek refuge from.

♥️ TIMMY POET ♥️