AN IRONICAL REALITY

AN IRONICAL REALITY

....................ELUSIYAN TOLU’ FRANCIS

The day dawns                                                                                   

A historical day predicted by many

A day when slaves become sons

Born of different Mothers

The day of expectation is here

A day when Heroes emerge from the earth

A day when three sons are united

In a bond never in existence

It is a day when kingdoms are torn apart in a bond

A bond for selfish power

Embedded in motives of unspeakable manner

The fathers cultivated the land

Who will eat of its fruits?

The stream is deep and wide

Who can determine its boundaries?

It’s the eve of the marriage ceremony

The bride is prepared and ready

But the one thing that matters most is lost

The pride of the bride is no more

And the groom is left in total ignorance

In joyful anticipation of that day of liberty

A true daughter of the Igbo tribe

Is raped to death in a Yoruba town

An Hausa man convicted of the crime, is put to death

Actually committed by a Yoruba Prince

Consumed by hate of sexual violation

Suffered at the hands of the white men

A true test of sincerity

A fertile foundation to build unity

But concealed from the light

Hidden from the same people

About to be married

It was all a lie

Telling us to try

Binding a nation so wide

Just to see us die

It is ironical

Uniting a nation so inimical

With sores of great sorrows

For how can we climb a tree with no root?

How can we build a house with no foundation?

How can we make peace when there was never a war?

Indeed, foundation once destroyed

What can the just do?

The past was never gone

It’s just a repetition of history

A history of blood lust

A history so dreadful

A history of man predators

And man preys

Tomorrow is an imagination

 For how can you say to a blind man

“Walk on my friend, you can now see”

When at noon,

 He thinks its mid-night

It’s all an illusion

A trance played by all

Suffered by all

Both the slaves and the free born

Oh!!! What an ironical reality?

A reality of shame and disappointments

A reality fulfilled today

Even amongst the slaves

Yesterday we said today

Today we say tomorrow

We keep hoping for a future

That is almost spent out

We keep hoping for a destiny

Fulfilled before our conception

We keep digging for a treasure

Already in use

Oh!!! What an ironical reality???