The Chair by the Door

Na small scratch wake me that night
Mango branch against the zinc
I reach for phone beside my pillow
One old warning enter mind
Somebody say trouble dey follow
Everybody from our side
Since that day, each sound for midnight
Fit keep me awake till five
I carry chair go near the doorway
Sit dey watch till morning light
My wife find me there at daybreak
Still in yesterday’s shirt

That afternoon, I open Bible
Find the place we mark for church
“Submit yourselves therefore to God
Resist the devil, and he will flee”
I read the first part very slowly
Before I reach “resist”
Then Ephesians tell me stand
With the armour God don give
No be every thought I must follow
No be every word I must keep
I fit take my stand in Jesus
Even when my hands still shake

I go stand for wetin God talk
I belong to Jesus Christ
Devil, I resist you
In the name of Jesus Christ
With His truth, I go stand
With my faith, I go stand
I go pray and hold His Word
He don give me ground to stand

Night reach, I check the gate bolt
Close the kitchen window well
Put that chair beside the table
Where we normally dey eat
My wife sit down there beside me
We read Scripture, then we pray
We bring our children before the Father
And the things we fear to name
I no need wake the whole compound
Before I know my Father hears
I fit speak the name of Jesus
Without borrowing somebody’s fear

I go stand for wetin God talk
I belong to Jesus Christ
Devil, I resist you
In the name of Jesus Christ
With His truth, I go stand
With my faith, I go stand
I go pray and hold His Word
He don give me ground to stand

When accusation bring my record
Christ don make me righteous
When temptation offer shortcut
I go hold the truth
When tomorrow crowd my thinking
I go bring my prayer to You
With salvation as my helmet
And Your Word, I take my stand

That same branch scratch roof for midnight
I wake, hear am, then breathe
For a moment, fear return
But I remember wetin I read
“Father, I belong to Jesus
Help me rest inside Your care”
I lie down beside my wife
Leave the chair where e belong

I go stand for wetin God talk
I belong to Jesus Christ
Devil, I resist you
In the name of Jesus Christ
With His truth, I go stand
With my faith, I go stand
I go pray and hold His Word
He don give me ground to stand

Morning meet us round the table
Children drag their chairs come near
We share bread and plan the school run
Daylight enter everywhere