Happy In-Dependent.

(Nigeria)

A land so great and beautiful,
blessed with greens beyond the hood.
Climate ceased not, plants yeild good.
Yet maggots in disguise are turning it hue.

The smile of farmers makes them sad.
The cry of the labourers gives them live.
They pounced on the finest of every plant
without caring if the farmers live or die.

Lazily they stay in their comfort zone,
in the name of making the seeds grow.
People expect them to make the land greener.
But there they are sparing thorns and traps.

Three score and one years it is today
from the day the field became a cage.
Until all these maggots get fumigated
the land would continue to groan in pain.

Wish it is truly freedom and not what it is.
But tomorrow I believe would bring justice
to those whose sweat has been denied,
to those whose game is people's lives.

Author's Note

I wish it's truly an independent and not what it is today.

Reviews

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

How did the farming community allow the pests to take over the greenhouse?
How did this rich lush land become a land of total malnourishment?
Did the farmers sell their souls?
One gross minus four scores and three years after.
Our flag is green...yet the greenery is dying

Beautiful piece Kay,
I couldn’t resist adding my thoughts

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

I know how that feels Sarah.
It's like we are brainwashed and only have to follow everything they say.
But not will change until we changed it.

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

Yes,I agree but our how might be different.
I believe that a mental paradigm shift would be the genesis of a coup.

[Coyote Poetry]

The below lines. More real than we need.
"Lazily they stay in their comfort zone,
in the name of making the seeds grow.
People expect them to make the land greener.
But there they are sparing thorns and traps."
I do like the honesty in the above lines. The thorns and traps can blindside us. Thank you, Kay, for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[barleygirl]

I know nothing about the political situations in Africa, but I've read enuf about colonialism to suspect your poem speaks to the idea that some imperialistic nations seeming grant "freedom" to the African nation(s) they have dominated for years, but it's not really true freedom for whatever reasons it is lacking. Similarly, when slaves were freed in the USA, then there was sharecropping, which was just a glorified version of slavery. Lots of "people in charge" think the "lowly ones" should operate more independently, but they also don't realize they aren't giving them all the keys to the kingdom. As always, your writing is thought-provoking (((HUGS)))

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Thank you for your powerful points here Margie. Most of what we called freedom today is advance slavery. Even within our own people.

[AMMD]

The metaphors pull the reader from title to the last line. The world can be a cruel and lying beast, but then there are the artists who convey other possibilities to contemplate. Thank you for the write from a fellow creative and perceptive soul

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Thank you for the powerful and kind response, AMMD.

[AMMD]

Actions speak louder than words. You are welcome, and thank you

[John the Baptist]

The poem seems to describe an agricultural crisis, but one must wonder if the infestation is symbolic of some political situation. Sometimes governments can behave like plagues.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Thanks for your insight, John.
It's more of political crisis rather than agricultural.
Today we are celebrating Independence but the situation of the country doesn't call for any celebration.