#IAMNIGERIA A Nation’s Soliloquy

I was Nigeria:
Undistorted Paradise
Winged Aphrodite with affectionate sons
of diverse pilgrims but hand in hand;
I spread my wings of beauty without.
An alluring Giant, I echoed my Name
Basking in my flora-fauna riches.
My prowess I flaunted in inaudible egregious chants;
When the aliens came I was Nigeria,
My feet rooted with passion—
Held my sceptre in unflinching bravery.

I am Nigeria:
Prowess punctured by nescient’s sword —
I’m bleeding.
Greens evacuated for the liquid,
Unity, a dated ritual
Peace is blurred by shuddery signs.
Dopey erred’s men snatching souls in witless frenzy,
Masked devils with songs of death,
Men in Black partying in commotion.
Those who finds a voice are fleetly sojourners
Their songs for peace received with bullets
The young are cripples, by demo-crazy stultified.

I will be Nigeria:
The once known Giant, even mightier
Lips no longer rendering hymns of discordance
Nor hearts harbouring boils of tribalism—
leed-ers out, Leaders in.
Love hovering, Christ embracing Mohammed.
Paradise I was, Paradise I will be
The Continent’s Giant I was, same I will remain.
I will be Nigeria when
Age-long pregnancy of “Change”
is finally birthed in the manger of willful transformation.