The cruel man in uniform Poem by John Ukpanukpong

I was on the wheels to work

Then I  remembered the cruel man in uniform

I nearly fought with the other day

Speak of the devil! He is here

I looked at him with a friendly smile

He reacted with a monster look

He screened all my papers

Yet not a fault was found

“I got you this time” I said inwardly

“Where are you going to catch me”

Next thing I heard was the “license to have an ear”

In bewilderment I asked “sir please repeat”

“Can I see the license that permits you to have an ear?”.

You mean my ear? I asked

Yes even your clothes needs a license he said more seriously this time

I knew he wanted me to toss a few pennies into his pocket

But how on earth can I default in not having an ear license

Why do we have rogues as security guards?

Why do we have hoodlums and tricksters representing the people
All these questions puzzled my mind as I day dreamed.

He became more serious and asked me to give him the key to my car.

No sane man sees a rifle and disobey

Well, as a gentleman I gave him my car key

"When you’re ready to comply ,come and let’s strike a deal" he said

Oh God! I have to be at work by now

I soon realized his scheme

His scheme was to keep me waiting until I get fed up

I had promised that I would never give him anything even a fiver

Then I remembered my boss warning me last time for lateness

My boss told me I would be fired if go to work late again

“What must I do now? “

No cab around, I would have left my car there

Rather than give him what he did not work for

At last I called him with a stern look thinking his conscience was alive

I pulled out my wallet and gave him some pennies

He smiled like never before and said “you know you’re my friend”

I did not bother to answer him

Off I went with my vehicle in madness

He was the official arm robber with a uniform

A cruel man in uniform

An arm robber paid by the state for stealing

A trickster that never leaves the road.

What a cruel man in uniform.