Poems about our capital
Joshua Idehen is a poet and musician, the founder of the highly acclaimed poetry group PiP (A Poem Between People), a frontman of Benin City ("Outkast meets Benin City"), and the host, co-founder and co-promoter of PoeJazzi, a night of poetry and music which received five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007 and 2008. He has performed at many of the UK's leading festivals, including the Big Chill, Glastonbury and Latitude; on BBC Radio One, and BBC Radio 3's The Verb; his work has been featured by The Times, The Sunday Times and Prospect magazine, and published in anthologies alongside Linton Kwesi Johnson and Anthony Joseph.
Lost in the City
It's obvious you get on with this metropolis
the big smoke's a big joke and you're the butt of it
not like before when you were sure you'd fall in love with it
eventually, pity; the city don't like optimists
Yeah, you had your summer thing
Yeah, you had your summer fling
now, you feel the whistle wind
winter tightening the fist
the night, is thick like octopus ink
more friends, more cash, keep mind out the pits
you skint - stuck in a separate zone
the city wears loneliness like a nasty cologne
You're the only working clock amongst a flock of metronomes
you're the only, working... clock
Recently, it's like the city's fallen out with you
the sky is frowning like the city wants to battle you
you light a candle and the city throws the dark at you
You carry on, dumb son, try not to stumble
You're not a part of this city it's not a part of you
been living here for years, it's like you're passing through
you're not a part of this city it's not a part of you
lost, here - lost in the city
lost in the city
and it is lost to you
so many voices here so few are audible
scream as much you like, you'll be silenced by the nights
be dazzled by the nightlife, drowning in the pints
there's no need to be yourself, be anyone you like,
you could be the city's champion, it's bit of fun that
night-time owl, by day you're an admin,
star of the now, has-been by the morning
city of the false grins, of the short wins
such diverse rhythms where you gonna fit in
many birds with ambition walk around with clipped wings, not
everyone who grinds, in the city gets to shine
very many turn blurred, very many turn blunt
many aim for the stars get stuck in the glut
you have got to be the acid to survive the city's guts
shouldn't you leave the city, since you hate it this much
but I can't leave now it promised so much
the prize is so close, I can almost touch
I know I'm gonna make it, you can stay here and watch, it's
stolen my heart, it's got me by the crotch I'll
be dazzling by the limelight, dancing in its hype
I'll be part of this city, part of it true and true
seen its uglier faces, soon I will see it new.
