BEHIND THE SCENES

Behind the wooden stage,
They shared the food.
Unknowingly,
One of the actors
Came out chewing.
And the audience
Frowned bitterly.

Behind the scenes,

They  laughed

An unstoppable laughter

Threatening like thunder.

The audience trembled with fear.

Their play was on

While nobody was on stage.

Behind those wooden walls,

They ate and drank

The audience salivated

As the aroma sweet 

Punished their sensitive noses.

Eagerly, they waited

For the anticipated play.

The audience sat still

Watching him

Eating his bread crumbs on stage.

He mocked the audience

'Was this part of the play?'

The audience wondered aloud.

The troupe of actors

Paraded on the stage.

Suddenly,

The bell rings

And curtains closed

Their time is over.

They begged the audience

For another term

The audience roared angrily.

Their time was over

Not knowing that

The auditorium was the judge

They always fool 'us'

The audience!

      Literal meaning of the poem:

The poem is about what politicians do in their offices without the consent of their voters. These acts are popular in Africa where politicians steal a lot of money from the government. The persona/poet is one of the audiences and sees what they do behind the scenes. At the end, their time is over but they keep on begging the audience for another term. This poem clearly illustrates African governments whose leasers are filled with greed.