Lamentations and the Prophets
By Etinyeneobong Udofia
A voice cries,
“The street child
has slept too long in the dirt to have faith in water;
The stray dog
is aware of its unwelcome presence in homes
seeing that instead of bones,
it is fed with cold, aching stones;
How do you convince the ant
that he too can wear the crown of the lion?
How does one sing lively psalms on lips dying?”
An answer echoes,
“Eagles may squeal like babies
but they will soar like gods. “
So sail Africa
into streets no longer graffitied with misery;
Dine on tables where stale stars will be rebuttered;
Seize liberties no more silenced at points of rifles and greed;
Sprawl in the depth of abundance which was yours, to begin with.
This will be Africa
A mandate of valid dreams;
Blooming like sweet apples that thrive in every season;
Undaunted by the stench in her history;
Handing back hope to her youths.
Africa
You are not a hazy shadow slipping into the dark
Nor a name spelt with an indelible question mark;
If you glide doggedly on winds of positive change
Your imperfections will be but glass chains.
In this new found light,
My African dream springs to life.
Etinyeneobong Udofia’s poem was the winning entry at the maiden Arise Africa Writing Contest.
