"Arise O compatriots, Nigeria's call obey "
Bullets singed through the air
Bodies danced and fell in a parody of ***
A foul stench followed the bullets
A stench of fear? One could not tell
The stench of death amidst dying flesh
Guns blasted, screams echoed
Legs flapped, hands flailied
And there i sat with my eyes shut, shouting my anthem, praying this cup passes me by
"To serve our father's land with love and strength and faith"
"Hush now" my mind berated
"What father's land?" She questioned
"It's filled with thorns, be careful least you fall" she cautioned
"GET UP" she shouted, "RUN NOW" she bellowed
"Live to tell this tale, for thy father's land has forsaken thee "
"The Labor of thy heroes past, shall never be in vain"
Death brought chaos in its wake
There I sat in deathly calm
I felt it like a whisper in my ears
"I'm here now hero"
peace enveloped me
This is how it felt, to die for a noble cause
My eyes snapped open unseeing, my lips moved unheard
Down fell the tears, the last my eyes could do
"One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity".
Cderah
This was written during the period my country was in crisis. We held a peaceful protest and some citizens were shot by the military while singing the national anthem. October 20, 2020 is a day we won't forget in a hurry