Tattoo In My Eyes (A Poem)

Circumstance used its knife to engrave timeless features;

In our heart: its pain made up indelible scriptures:

Which shall forever more shape our today and “futures.”

As the eagle soar through the skies, we became distinct creatures;

That may never be discerned without tracing our treasures;

Through the rain, through the pain, we are nurtured by nature.

I inhaled through my lungs beckoning for divine endless will;

To make me smile through our days of blissful windmill;

When we used to run and fall as mum fix our meal.

Life was smooth sailing then, on an innocent downing hill,

But today in our prime time we pray on hurtful bill:

Wandering through this life as if trapped in shark’s gill.

The portrait above has been transfixed as a tattoo in my eyes

Which shall never fade; and never told in colorful lies;

Through it, I am poised to live in destined castle or a shanty with flies.

I glanced at my tattoo with fears for Afghanistan

I glanced at my tattoo with love for my ebony tan;

I glanced at my tattoo with tears for Pakistan.

I shifted my gaze down to glorious Tunis-Arabian premise;

I quivered and dithered wandering through a dreamy promise:

Oh mine or mine when shall Palestine make the world so wise?

With my heartbeat rising, I can see, not far from home, the ocean of blood.

I can see in my tattoo, raging fires; of tribe; of race; of devilish vengeance sold

From Jos-Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, to Libya hold forte conscience ran cold.

As the downing comes close, the tattoo becomes bloodier,

I pray to You or Lord to maintain my heart to remain friendlier:

So that in this dark world, dark days: dark hearts, I become Your chandelier.

Revert the tattoo in my eyes into a beauty to behold.

Convert our evil thoughts into pristine priceless gold.

And when the darkness is bought, Oh Lord give us light; make us bold.

Ali Baba Yakubu

10th April 2011

Author's Note