Oh! How I wish
That I could just look
And then find the grace
The grace to laugh
Perhaps as Fela
Probably shorn of mirth
But some way to wail
In the absence of tears
Fela had to look
To find cause to laugh
My senses are daily assailed
With sufficient cause
To anoint this head of dreads
With dollops of ashes
There’s always something
A cause to mourn
In the land of my birth
Arguments begun aeons afore
Before the dawn of me
Continues to rage
Fueled by the blinds
Who are meant to lead
Elevated by the deaf
Supported by the mute
If I shall dare to laugh
Aro, an inmate shall gain
I see no mirth in this land
The laughter shall be wet
Wouldn’t be joyful either
I’d probably be crying red
Crimson red as the flows
From Dapchi to Chibok
To the creeks of the Ogonis
Into the estuaries of the Ijaws
From the peaks of Jos
Into the Benue trough
If I shall laugh it’ll be wet
I’d be weeping red
For the morrows ate
Consumed by greed
Look and laugh?
Get the fetters!
Ready the chains!
If I laugh, grab me
I’d only be laughing
Because I’m mad
And so should you!
DF
First published 22 August, 2020.
