SATIRE: "THE FLYING MONSTERS" BY AKAN ESSIEN

Day by day  

we live in

their shadow  

of flying monsters  

coloured grey  

breeding lies  

at corruption bay.

The hope

they promised  

to fill our plates  

lies dead before our eyes 

not fit for

an earthworm  

that crawls upside down  

strapped tight

with hunger

wearing

neglect like a belt.

Flying monsters  

with a monastery  

of deceit

clever with words  

that taste like sweet cream gone sour

expired before use

multiply

in binary replications

overwhelming

our skies.

We will hunt down  

these

flying monsters

whose guile

is on life support

with catapults

and axes  

with

sharpened edges  

when the reckoning moon comes.

 © Akan Essien

- Uyo, Nigeria 

The poem “The Flying Monsters” by Akan Essien condemns corrupt leaders who deceive people with false promises while citizens suffer from hunger and neglect. The “flying monsters” symbolize those in power who spread lies and corruption.

The poet shows how these leaders use sweet but empty words to manipulate society, causing disappointment and hardship. Their deceit continues to grow and overshadow the lives of ordinary people.

In the end, the poem becomes rebellious as the speaker promises that the people will rise against these corrupt rulers when the time for justice finally comes.