I would like to take a moment
to thank the Nigerian singer/rapper
who performed after the act I came to see tonight with his backing tracks and cajoled the crowd to “get up and dance!”
like his life depended on it.

It didn’t, of course,
but some of us followed his call for activity
and got off our asses
and into position
and listened to the music.

There weren’t many of us.
Most left
after the show we came to see ended
but this guy started very quickly
afterward to pick up the crumbs
of the 7 o’clock act
since he didn’t bring anyone himself.

What he brought was the tunes
and the energy
and the voice.
What I brought was the sweat
and the memory of doing this kind of thing
once, a million times before,
in a youth I longed to recall.

I would like to take a moment
to thank the Nigerian singer/rapper
for returning me to yesteryear
– though no earlier yesteryear included Nigerian music.

I am better
than I was before.

I think his name was Zexsy.