(Dedicated to the African Child in Another Man’s Home)
Victor is crying again
The first son of Nneka was beaten again
I heard his grandfather complaining to my father
“Victor is lazy! Victor is stupid!!
Am I the one to cook for Victor!!!
That boy is very stupid!
Very soon he will say we are maltreating him again!!”
Victor is crying again
Sitting near my mother and Mama Uzonna
He was wailing, trying to prove his innocence
“Every day they will send me on errands, three days now without food
Even if I’m a bull!
But once they see you people they claim the good as if I’m a fool”
Victor is crying again
His grandfather, seated with my father trying to prove his offence
“Victor can’t sweep the house!
Victor always claims to be sick!
That boy is evil!!
He is a real devil like his mother!
What kind of human being is this Victor?”
Victor is crying again
My father brought his snuff from his side pocket
He pretends to be listening to his brother, Victor’s grandfather
We know that once my father puts his snuff in his big nose,
He is across the border
With the tears of the snuff’s sweet sensation
My father sneezed and smiled
What were you saying brother?
Victor is crying again
If taking care of this boy have become a problem
I advise you to take this boy back to his father
I can’t have high blood pressure for another
We all know the truth
Why Victor cries all the time
Victor is crying again
His father divorced his mother and married another
His grandfather divorced his grandmother and married another
Victor’s mother brought him home to the care of his grandfather and step grandmother
Victor was seen as a stranger by his cousins
He was given all the domestic duties by his cousins
With the hatred of his step grandmother to anyone who loved him, Victor cries all day long.
We all know Victor was malnourished
He was seen as a poor child that doesn’t belong to the rich
Victor steals phone
Victor steals food
To feel his belly for he was not given any
Victor is crying again
