DIDACTIC: "IF NOT THAT I'M GREEDY" BY SULAIMON KHALID

life handed me a pail,

called it a journey,

& me, I'm too greedy

to walk through life

with an empty bucket.

so, I walked home,

knocked on the door,

& asked them to add something.

one, two, three bowls;

they poured me water & said,

go, we have given you enough.

as I turned to leave,

the Past came with a cup,

called me back

& asked me to hold out my hands.

one, two, three cups;

then it smiled, calling it a gift.

I waved goodbye,

but the Future stopped me.

you cannot leave just yet,

it said; I have one for you, too,

it went inside, returned with a jar,

and poured in one, two, three more,

now, it said, you may go.

& yes, I left,

with a pail on my head

& my tiny neck beneath its weight,

if I journey North, I carry it;

if I turn South, it's still in my skull.

I carry what home gave me,

what the Past refused to keep,

& what the Future said I would need.

& I never asked

if these waters were mine to carry.

if not that I'm too greedy,

what am I doing

with a bucket full of burdens?

© SULAIMON KHALID 

-Nigeria 

“If Not That I’m Greedy” by Sulaimon Khalid explores the human tendency to accumulate burdens, responsibilities, and expectations throughout life. Through the metaphor of a bucket filled with water, the speaker recounts receiving different portions from home, the past, and the future, each adding to the weight they must carry. As the journey continues, the speaker realises that these accumulated burdens have become difficult to bear, yet never questions whether they are necessary or truly theirs to carry. The poem reflects on greed, self-imposed pressure, and the habit of accepting more than one can manage. It ultimately encourages readers to examine their choices and recognise that not every burden deserves to be carried.