IN DEPENDENCE by A M M Winnie

In dependence
We felt the bitter pangs of hunger
Hunger that brought tears to the eyes
Eyes that cried for deliverance
Deliverance that was well hidden
Hidden in our roots
Roots that were looted.

In dependence
We cried for justice
Justice that never came to us
Us; Africans
Africans from Botswana to Uganda
Uganda to Mali to Tunis
Tunis to Zimbabwe to South Africa
South Africa to Sierra Leone to Nigeria
Nigeria: the proclaimed giant of Africa.

In dependence
We felt our blood flowing
Flowing deep from our wounds
Wounds from whips and abuse
Abuse of power by the masters
Masters whom we rebelled against and fought
Fought but never conquered.

In dependence
We feel we are independent
Independent yet we are not liberated
Liberated from slavery and anguish
Anguish suffered by the masses
Masses who have suffered
Suffered in the hands of the country that bore us.

In dependence
We celebrate victory
Victory of millions living in poverty
Poverty the father of mischief
Mischief our means of survival
Survival,  our striving and struggling
Struggling but never achieving.

In dependence
Our hearts are wounded
Wounded enough to make us crouch
Crouch and beg till we stop living
Living and dying in the darkness of our country
A country that has refused to help its children
Children: the ones that die before seeing the day.

In dependence
We have sang and written
Written letters upon letters
Letters to help us see the light
Light that is covered by darkness
Darkness that lays deep down in our hearts
Hearts that never rise
Rise above the boundaries set.

In dependence
We kill each order
Orderly we are disorderly
Disorderly we have lost our voices
Voices that are being stumped
Stumped till they die early
Early, the good ones die.

In dependence
We are writing again
Again, we are celebrating
Celebrating the dead giant gallantly
Gallantly, we will hold our heads up
Up above so we will rise
Rise like we never have.

In dependence
We hope we will become independent
Independent of hunger... Of terrorism
Terrorism, discrimination and inequality
Inequality of the citizens
Citizens that are buried deep
Deep under the ground of the powerful.

In dependence
We pray
Pray and act
Act and hope
Hope that we will be okay
Okay to celebrate a real independence
Independence without being in dependence.

Happy Independence Day.


A. M. M. Winnie
#poetic hood
#legal exponents
#Ifelaw
#OneNigeria