We Play Too Much | Stefn Sylvester Anyatonwu

POEM 169: WE PLATEAU MUCH

If the title made you laugh

you're the reason I wrote the piece.

Ukelle chant war cries

burning down Iyila,

their boarder mates.

In Barkin Ladi

are barking dogs laden with hate,

tearing down the thin fabric

that unite a divided us.

Can't you see?

From South to the naught

we play dice with human lives.

When I was a child, I pride in rivers Niger and Benue,

rowed my boat in their confluence,

and sang the anthem with enthusiasm

but now I can't swim this river of blood

nor pledge allegiance to this cult.

Have you seen the pictures?

Don't you care for Jos?

How long shall we kneel and pray

while the enemy rise to prey?

It's true, for now I understand,

the Jos shall leave by fate.

For when we burn our neighborhood

and raze in fire our countrymen,

the one true god shall grin divine

and savour this burnt offering.

Aye?

Head here, body there

mother and suckling child lie in death.

Their crime was singing 'We Are Here'

and believing 'all of us'

mime the same.

Look how they're butchered like game.

Our guardians, they do not care:

Why would they?

It's part of the game.

We plateau much!

#365DaysOfPoetry

#Pengician

#SSA

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