Vicious Cycle

3^rd June 2012

Sitting on the edge of the couch
Hearing the newscaster say, “No survivors…”
You want her to take the words back;
chew the words like she hadn’t meant them at all

“50 people reported on board…”
Then the number rises to 100 and finally settles at an audacious 153

“Well, at least we can rest assured there won’t be another plane crash for a long while…”
That’s what your friend said when he finally turned the television off
And, eyes crusted with dried tears, you all sat in his living room, dumbfounded
In shock with the rest of the nation

The three days of mourning came
Someone made a joke on BBM about hoping Monday would be declared a ‘national holiday for mourning’
The CEO of Dana Air was apparently on the run
The aviation minister apparently cried on television

Then, slowly
Bodies of the dead were recovered from the burnt plane
Charcoaled torsos and limbs returned to their loved ones.
The horror.

The anguish in your heart when you heard Dana Air was flying again
The Smartest Way to Fly
They were back
“Well at least they won’t ever crash again…”

3^rd October 2013

You get a message from your brother:
“Please tell me another plane didn’t just crash in Lagos”
You hurry to Google
Lagos crash

Dear God.
Another one.
But it’s too early.
We aren’t ready to mourn again.

Segun Agagu
That’s the name you’re seeing all over the headlines
His corpse was being taken to Akure
The plane took off and crash-landed shortly after

Three days of mourning?
Someone makes a joke on BBM about hoping Friday is declared a ‘national holiday for mourning’?
The CEO of Associated Airline on the run?
The aviation minister cries on television?

This vicious cycle
Will never end
Until we decide
That enough is enough