Generations War

~for Nigeria

Let my children eat the fruits of blood stained earth

Of lands toiled on

Let these sands feed to them our stories in time

Let their stomachs be poisoned with hate and an agitation towards war

Let the ties that bind our regions divide be severed

Let our broken minds find strength to fight for our long lost friends to be reborn

Unity in diversity

Peace

Progress

They died alongside their descendants

And we have stood pulling at the thin lines that divide the living and the dead

Our foolish resolve

Let us fight

Let our children eat of the fruits of these blood stained lands

Let their bellies be poisoned with rage

And let them remember

To ruthlessly guard the moral truths their fathers have taught them

To be cautioned by their superego’s intent

And to die leading to safe lands if their breadth fails them

You bite the fingers that have fed you

That have raised you an intellectual army

You curse their rule and their efforts in meaningless terrorism

Let our father lands curse you too

From the bosom of the graves of those who have fought for us

And from the lips of those who live to fight

We can stand and watch no more.

 

Reviews

[Eddie Phillips]

This is a beautiful write. I hear the love, pride, and commitment in every word. I was moved by it and caught up in its sincerity. By the time I came to the end I was profoundly inspired. You have such a gift. I thank you for sharing this with us.

[Ruthie Igunbor]

thank you so much! :)

[Micheal Funn]

I also have this anger boiling in me, sometimes i get frustrated too...
but has you rightly coined "We can stand and watch no more"

[dicey jones]

Really a wonderful poem here...
The last three lines indeed show a frustration that really makes one understand the whole concept of the view you try to build.
"We can stand and watch no more!"
Maybe it's time we speak and let our voices be heard

[Ruthie Igunbor]

it is indeed time.
thanks for the review

[Rita L. Sev]

Your anger and frustration come through with clarity, Ruth - your poem is powerful and fraught with meaning. Sad in its reality, this is nonetheless a good poem.

[Ruthie Igunbor]

thank you Rita. the poem is actually based on reality, Nigeria has been through quite a lot in the last year

[Simon Welsh]

This is powerful. There's a sense of defeatism here.

[Ruthie Igunbor]

thank you :)