"Ibe"

 "Ibe"

Ibem, my mates have moved on...

Their journey tracing the barely travelled paths. 

I tried to whet my feet on the stones of grief

To brush off the blunt faces of happiness 

Gazing at my slumber and slugger

Mana ijem siri ike.

Ijem, the voices we hear

Call our feet to various crossroads 

Where decision and fate tumble upon each other.

You call to mind the day we set out,

Eager as each smile opens a new chapter of this phase

Mana nkem no na akachukwu.

Nkem, the voices of love that refuse to grow faint,

Through the night struggles with life,

Through the roaring laughter of mockery,

Through the jeers of small minds,

We have risen a great clan forged by sincere tears, true

 love in one heart. 

"Ka Chi Foo"

"Ka Chi Foo"

There were lonely days sown in this dark corners,

Where I started my walk through life.

I remember them vividly like the sound of my first name TOCHUKWU in the mouths of my busybody neighbours.

I saw the wall yawn with hunger

As it reflected the images in my belly

I knew I could drown and die in the tears that Lay with me like a lake full of sharks.

The nights were so long with the constant filtering of noise by nocturnal creatures

The dawn was so far beyond my reach

No plea could ever bring it closer.

I had a neighbour more like a brother

Our names both had a T although his had life in it than God: TONDU.

He kept his affluence behind close doors

And constantly handed me a feigned pity. 

And yes, I took it.

I had a lover. Had like past possession.

She hid in the dark. I heard her voice faintly but loud were her straying and fleeing steps

My heart flutter, not of excitement but fear.

I had hope with smouldering coals

I kept fanning its embers 

They kept my heart warm

So I hoped that it wouldn't take long

The cock will crow

Ka chi wee foo na ndu m

The Saviours

 "The Saviours "

On the Wake of independence,

A strange coldness was poured on emaciated souls.

Then came the goosebumps

The trepidation,

The uncertainties

Which plagued the tender nation spreading so fast like a ravaging pandemic

Through the fabrics of her soul.

Black swiftly became white

As truth glaring became lies

The night settled finally with its full weight

As bleeding feet scamper aimlessly in the enveloping darkness.

Yet the nation trudge on

Despite losing her two eyes

The blind led the blinds

To walk the thorny path of democracy.

Here and there,

Ambushes were laid on this wounded nation

By men of uniform

To wrest power through the guts of bullets than the ballot...

But She fought tirelessly,

Smeared severally in bloody coups,

And fierce protests;

Her heroes fell and others rose

Until she escaped into the waiting arms of thieves in rich caftans and lofty campaign promises. 

THE SAVIOURS who saves us not.