The temple of Justice
House of Lords and judges
The hope of the common man
Is justice really justice?
Especially in Africa
Or it is for the highest bidder?

"If you no get money"
Your case is different
Your case lacks merit
Not enough evidence
I laugh in Chinese
Is there judicial independence in Africa?

Let me even ask
Where is the god of thunder?
Where is the god of iron?
That worked very well for us
With them, the guilty is rewarded with death
"Abeg", bring back our gods

All in support say "Hi"
No need to ask if you don't
We serve gods of instant judgement
That sanity may return to Africa
The "Hi's" have it
Court! All rise!

A Poem: Bros., Wey You?*

Bros., Wey you?
I hear say your game tight
I wan hear your market
You no need to drop shekels
I just wan help you

Come make me reason
No cone form Asari for me
I no be Orpkorpise oh
Na lashing things oh
You know now!

Abeg make you do pem oh
Na white sky I go take come
Make your name dey your neck oh
Preye say you Gallant dia
Oya, make we enter yonder

Make you walensh well oh
Dem no dey use shame drink poison
I see you, I see heaven
After every don kpomkpi
Las las, we go dey alright

No worry, wetin be suya
If I want make my mouth dey busy
I go just dey blow whistle
So you no go provoke
Know say Lasgidi Erema no fit

When I finish with you
You go know say devil na area boy
Na God be Godfather
Kpata kpata na draw
Warri Erema no dey carry last

I go soon bracket you for Effurun junction
Before omuta go enter
No time to check time
This motor dey delay my destiny
I don dey reach your crib

My temper dey rise now
And I no fit use am boil rice
Afterall, no vero for maternity ward
When I work you finish
You go hear alaba

Today, he no get as he be
I go run your matter wella
I know say you go make sense
Abeg, wuna gi mi cold shack for di side
Nothing dey happen

Babatunde Raimi (c)
Author/Life Coach/Poet

A Cherry blossoms in it's time
It's a beauty of times and seasons
But yours is ageless and timeless
Like a dazzling mirage.

Atmospheric conditions changes
As by-products of optical illusions
Like the moon usually waits
To reflect the glory of the sun
But yours is not serendipitous
Your spark is programmed to shine till fade

Mojekwu's probability can be biased
The urn can be unfavourable to a ball
But the ***** in your eyes are blazing
They tell the story of beauty with brains

The reflection from that BMW
That shone across that chariot
Owned by that Happy
A Pharmaceutical colosus
Revealed your perfect dentition
The type found on enchantresses

If the world goes numb
Your voice will be all that is needed to hear
If the lights world over goes off
The sparkle in your eyes
Will be all needed to see

When meeting friends
You always know the beginning
Not the end
That is how Divinity programmed life
Even Augusta can attest to this

The refraction of light
Blazing from the heated skies
Have all pledged their loyalty
To you, a beauty Queen
The way other principalities
Bows to the presence of a Lioness

This work, written from the purerst of heart
Is just to let you know that
If i were an ocean
You will be my only pebble
If i be an Accountant
You will be my only Audit
If i be a Pharmacist
You'll be my only medicine

Someone tell me this is not real
Before i wake up from my slumber
That a dazzling mirage
Somewhere in her sacred heart
Smiles at an Author and a Life Coach
Whose pen is worthless
Without her "Yes"

Are you free today?
Before boredom overwhelms me
Can you come over?
The line went dead and silent
Until I heard the tiny voice
"Ok", give me a little while

Quickly I arranged my bed
My accessories imprisoned by dust
Finally, they got their freedom
With a sparkling new look
I changed the ambiance
With a nice and sweet spray

Waiting can be so long!
I felt like I've been waiting for years
The clock suddenly became slow
I followed all the tick tock
Till I heard the doorbell rang
Yea, who is it? Like I never knew

I suddenly became a stutterer
How can God package so much in one vessel?
I never knew i could be this courteous
Thank God only my shadow witnessed it
When she called my name
The truth, I died…..

Slowly she walked in like an Angel
Can I sit down she asked?
Yes, I am fine I answered
Then suddenly my brain came to life
She asked to sit
Yes please, I said to this damsel

Suddenly, I noticed a slight bulge
You will not put me to shame
You this shameless generator of generations
Quickly I made to arrest it
With my Christmas denim pant
And a tight faded jean

As she settled into the couch
That was the last thing I remembered
My mind traveled all over her
Her presence filled the house
She must have been curated on a Monday
After God finished creation on Sunday

So, what is going on with you?
Obviously, she was in the driver's seat
How can she bring the game to me?
Yet, I lost my composure
In my very own comfort zone
Never joke with the power of a woman

Can I share your seat?
She smiled, beckoned with her index finger
I quickly sank into the chair
To my amazement she was calm
She mildly held and stroked my hands
If this is a dream, please Lord, I don't want to wake up

At close range she could hear it
As my heartbeat raced faster than Michael Phelps
Come to Mummy she said
Without hesitation I moved like thunderbolt
Sank into her sweet arms
Then she planted a forehead kiss

As dawn drew closer
I found courage to ask
Please, will you stay over?
I could feel a crack in my voice
Seductively she smiled and retorted
No Sweety, I wish I could!

Why wouldn't she just stay?
My heart said from the inside
When the hour finally came
Together, we walked quietly
Goodbye my lover
Silently, I wished the day never ended

From his lips escaped thefeelings
He expertly hid in his heart
How he so treasured them
They were a part of his story

A breezy night it turned to be
A day she told me about that guy
She was drowned in his ocean
But still, I could feel her hurt

I wonder what spell he cast on her
I can still recall the statement
"His smile melts my very bone"
This, made me shiver

This strange guy I never met
Seemed to have captured her world
"I can never be with him"
Those words were soothing

But then I understood her hurts
She had carried it for years
Like a plaque on her breast
But, can she still love me?

Let's go there
After a visual massage
My vision became blurry
The way you swayed
And smelt
It will take a god to say 'No'

Let's go to sin city
Throw caution to the wind
While emotions run high
Let's form Adam and Eve
For between those two poles
Lies the peak of enjoyment

Right now I am drolling
When I close my eyes
Your are the one I see
In your natural state
Imagine you were here
All I ask is to be your barber
Let me help you carve down there

Right about now
Nothing else matters
I just want me in you
And you in me
Then let out those sweet murmurings
Which becomes music to my ears

How long do I wait?
Patience is a virtue
But I loose it on your sight
Non can stop the Sun's light
Neigher can any cover the glory of the moon
Not even when you are clad
Your beauty lies within

As you read these lines
Just know that I am right here
Fiddling with my pillows
Wishing you were here
That I may show you love
Which comes from the purest of hearts
Right a cross the Savannah
But yet, still I wait...

Falling down a slippery *****
Moving from the south to the west
And there you are my love
Your arms wide open
I just need to fall in your hands
Then, together we fall to the ground
Kissing and rolling together
Until nature takes us west
It was cold and lonely
Even though we ended up east
For us, it was the beginning
A new dawn that will last till fade

...dear lover,
If I say I love you
Jesus will die again.
Love! - It once existed

If I say you are my fantasy
Eros will be a child of light
Fantasy! - now devoid in my world.

If I say you are my dream
Morpheus will laugh in his sleep.
Dream? - Now void and empty.

...dear Lover,
Once upon a time,
I was your goddess,
Was I not your world?
I was your universe
Even though you called me your life.

Now, reality has struck
I lay alone on my couch
Left only with memories.
Memories now dreams.

When I was weak
Vulnerable and helpless
Instead of being a rung
You became an instrument
An incarnate of the devil
You abused me...

Instead of being a god
A mentor i can look up to
As much as I respected you
You bullied me
Stole my pride and confidence
I was down and out

I almost quit school
I was afraid to speak
For the fear of you
You caged my destiny
You and your unholy allies
Thank God I didn't join a rival gang

For years I suffered
I was broken emotionally
I died before I died
I almost took the only option
At least I will be free from all
Until I saw a light

Years after I look back
You ended up a non-entity
You didn't make it to the top
You and yours are now history
You threw stones at me
With them, I built a fortress

It's easy to forgive you
Even as you almost took my life
But I got the conviction
You were only reacting
Because I was better than you all
You all but me knew it, didn't you?

I discovered the me in me
You were an instrument
That the enemy chose
To derail my glorious destiny
But God had a plan
He allowed it for a purpose

You attacked my destiny
Because I am ahead of you
That is how God programmed it
Whom HE has blessed
Not even you can curse
So, like my Father, I forgive you

I pray you find peace
Repent of all your atrocities
That you may lead a good life
And raise a good home
And inspire your world
Just ask, HE will forgive

Are you worried or challenged?
Are you a subject of mockery or gossip?
Have you been slandered and maligned
Don't worry, HE is taking you somewhere
Just be calm, watch and pray
The One that created sleep never sleeps

I am glad I passed through them
Lifes challenges and fire
The brimestones and cruelties
But I survived them all
Because I have a vision
And my mission is clearlydefined

To all going through hell
Keep going! You will triumph
Don't pray away challenges
Ask for the grace to surmount
No student gets promoted without exams
Am I loud enough!

While you keep on
Beware of destiny killers
They come as unfriendly friends
They are visible in family
Worse in religious houses
Basking in the altar of hypocrisy

I am a survivor
I won by keeping my focus
I believe in your ability to triumph
Please don't let you down
I will see you at the top
The rightful place of giants

Looking at the river banks
You see the beauty of Nature
Void of artificials
Pearls worth more than diamond
That's how i see you my Angel

A Gold fish has no hiding place
A priceless asset worth more than rubbies
The first gift she gave me was Grilled meat
That we call "Suya" in our part of the world
Thumbs up Unique tutorials!

She has a knack for knowledge
An untiring zest to better her tomorrows
While competing with herself
Her proficiency is remarkable
Like a Lioness pursuing a prey

For her, the sky is blue
She loves her blue skinny jean
With celestial white crop tops
Revealing not too much
She looks in admiration
Journeying across the world
Just the way she loves her movies
With white rice
Laced with locally fried pepper
From a local grinding stone
Don't ask me how i knew
She is a "Person Of Interest"

For a Masai
Every Cow is precious
For a Poet; every acquaintance is priceless
Fair like the descendants of Job
Witty like Queen Esther
With a perfect figure eight
You cannot but gaze twice

Having studied Psychology
The psychology of human relations
In the University of Creavity
Faculty of Feminism
Graduating with honours
I qualify to say these lines
"Omowunmi", you are an epitome of beauty

You are an archetype worth studying
That's why my project is about you
Being a project submitted to the MBA School
Hoping this gets me closer
A little beyond the lines
That as good friends
We may paddle our canoe
To a world of limitless possibilities
Where there are no bounds

Keep those natural smiles
Don't stop being you
Striving to outstrip your yesterdays
Even if i am faraway
I will be close by
Whispering in your ears
Terrific stuffs worth hearing

Alone in the sands
The fields was yellow
It lost its greenery
What could have happened?
Make haste, get the soothsayers

Even the palms
They swayed not
Not that the beauty was lost
But in their dance
Lies that Sweet sound

I could see the cloud
Far from thence
This mystery we must solve
A puzzle we must demystify

As the pride passed by
The King followed behind
Abomination! A Lion King leads from the front
Whatever caused this blackness
Surely permeated his kingdom
His pride was hurt

Let's call the wise one
Suggested the Mice
For the King speaketh not
Like a sprinter he arrived
The wise old Tortoise
Only him has the answer

He conjured; poured wine
That their king may live
He made several atonements
To the lords of the night
Then his offering was accepted
The secrets were revealed

I have seen him fight
But today, it is not by strength
He has lost his Queen
The Queen of his heart
Who can atone the Lion King
None!

And just suddenly
Her heart belongs to another
But how can he fight
When he is disadvantaged
How can he fight
When he is seen as a weakling
He had lost his pride

Where do we go from here?
The wise one said
Like a well rehearsed song
All chanted in solidarity
Forward!
Fall eight times, rise the night

And so it happened
The pride of the King
Has just fallen for another
None can appease him
But in him lies greatness
For surely, he will rise again

And who knows, just maybe
He will find love again
It never happened before
But the Lion King cried
Who will clean his tears?
Who?

They have provoked her
The giant of Africa
When you stir the bees nest
You must be ready to dance
On the Cobra's tail they stepped
Does actions not beget re-actions?

In a sane society
Where human lives are treasured
Shall we continue like this?
Whose score is it to settle?
Do you want us to count scores?
This is not a battle you can win

Who cursed Africa?
Is this the Africa our fore-fathers fought for?
What really is xenophobia
Brother killing Brothers
But they forgot in a hurry
Are these the people we redeemed?

When a pride of lions are led by a Sheep
This is what you get in return
Disregard for human lives
Until their family is victimised
They enjoy in affluence
While we all suffer in abject penury

I have seen Tigers escape from Buffaloes
They stood as one indivisible entity
To defend their territory
Because enough is enough
We are a people of patience
But don't test the power of Naija

Take the battle to your leaders
Not to fellow Africans
Ask them about their electoral promises
Go to school and get a life
Acquire skills and stay empowered
You've got one more shot at peace

Go back to your history books
Read of our exploits during the  world war
Google our feats in Liberia
Have you heard about the spirit of Biafra?
That spirit still lives
The one that makes us stronger as one

Sheathe your swords of xenophobia
"Naija no dey carry last"
I hear the drums of war already
But until the beagle sounds
You have one last chance at peace
Take it, before it's off the table

To our leaders and politicians
Shame on you all
Our blood means nothing to you
Our brothers are sent to Valhala
The house of the Odin God
Our sisters ***** and maimed
Shame on you and your generation

And to you the ignorant fool
You **** your fellow Africans
Forgetting we are all flesh and blood
We share the same ancestors and lineage
This is not the Africa Madiba fought for
Shame on you all!

My fellow Nigerians
I come to you in peace
Let us explore diplomacy
They want to turn us against ourselves
Will we allow them?
"Biko, were Ndidi..."

My hands quiver as I write
My pen drips blood
I fear for my generation yet unborn
I see a revolution brewing
But let us go back to HIM
HE is the God of instant judgmen

Today is the day
The tomorrow we desired yesterday
The stage is set
The die is cast
I have never been too sure
Like I am with this right now
Of a truth, "Oh yes", God answers prayers

It was a very long search
Severally I missed it
But it was all worth it
Patience, a very arduous virtue
A gift to the meek
Many came and went
But with you my love, "I die there"
Today, the best day of my life

I prayed and fasted
And YOU said audibly to me
Be intentional. Watch and pray
I served YOU diligently
All I ask is to be led
Like a Sheep by her Shepherd
I am glad I did

For suddenly, it happened
It started as a joke
Friends turned lovers
They didn't see it
It will end before it starts
But YOU the all knowing
Made it happen in your time

Today, I walk like a Soldier
With my troop
But this time around
Not with guns and arms
But with our "Agbada* and "Isi Agwu"
To possess our possession
The perfect fit to my misfit

For years they mocked me
They asked "Where is my God?"
Like a Vulture awaits a dying child
That she may prey on it
They waited for my shame
But you turned it to fame
Turned my tears to cheers

They call you names
Asked you questions
When will you marry
Where is the man or woman
Your biological clock is ticking
You are too sapiosexual
But whose report would you believe?

While they mocked
I knelt down to pray
They thought I was really down
Until I stood up and said "Amen"
They can't judge me
It is better to marry early
But best to marry right

Today, it is a story
With this ring I have been waiting
No more late night outings
No more late night *****
I am now a crossed check
Account payee only
This can only be HIM

I want to worship in your altar
That we may fulfil scriptures
Be fruitful and multiply
With this ring I make this vow
Tonight I will throw caution to the winds
As we rumble in the field of ecstasy
Just lead, and I will follow

Today, we become one flesh and blood
A fulfilment of Prov. 18:22
Tonight is the night Where the Tigress dances with swagger Melodiously sounded by the Nightingale
Today, specially created for us
Give give this day "Oh Lord!"

Tonight is the night
We begin our journey
And raise a generation
It started as friendship
They thought it was a game
Today, they all here as witnesses
Beautiful ending to a rocky story

I can't believe this!
After years of waiting and  searching
I finally walked the aisle
With my friend, the love of my life
No more "Mama Put"
No more flirty calls
I surrender all !

All I am, all I will be
Is just for you and you
For better for best
Till death do us part
Can I kiss my Jewel now?
This is a true life story The story of  Yes I do. And she said "Yeeeeeesssss!"

Today is the day
The tomorrow we desired yesterday
The stage is set
The die is cast
I have never been too sure
Like I am with this right now
Of a truth, "Oh yes", God answers prayers

It was a very long search
Severally I missed it
But it was all worth it
Patience, a very arduous virtue
A gift to the meek
Many came and went
But with you my love, "I die there"
Today, the best day of my life

I prayed and fasted
And YOU said audibly to me
Be intentional. Watch and pray
I served YOU diligently
All I ask is to be led
Like a Sheep by her Shepherd
I am glad I did

For suddenly, it happened
It started as a joke
Friends turned lovers
They didn't see it
It will end before it starts
But YOU the all knowing
Made it happen in your time

Today, I walk like a Soldier
With my troop
But this time around
Not with guns and arms
But with our "Agbada* and "Isi Agwu"
To possess our possession
The perfect fit to my misfit

For years they mocked me
They asked "Where is my God? "
Like a Vulture awaits a dying child
That she may prey on it
They waited for my shame
But you turned it to fame
Turned my tears to cheers

They call you names
Asked you questions
When will you marry
Where is the man or woman
Your biological clock is ticking
You are too sapiosexual
But whose report would you believe?

While they mocked
I knelt down to pray
They thought I was really down
Until I stood up and said "Amen"
They can't judge me
It is better to marry early
But best to marry right

Today, it is a story
With this ring I have been waiting
No more late night outings
No more late night *****
I am now a crossed check
Account payee only
This can only be HIM

I want to worship in your altar
That we may fulfil scriptures
Be fruitful and multiply
With this ring I make this vow
Tonight I will throw caution to the winds
As we rumble in the field of ecstasy
Just lead, and I will follow

Today, we become one flesh and blood
A fulfilment of Prov.18: 22
Tonight is the night
Where the Tigress dances with swagger
Melodiously sounded by the Nightingale
Today, specially created for us
Give give this day "Oh Lord! "

Tonight is the night
We begin our journey
And raise a generation
It started as friendship
They thought it was a game
Today, they all here as witnesses
Beautiful ending to a rocky story

I can't believe this!
After years of waiting and searching
I finally walked the aisle
With my friend, the love of my life
No more "Mama Put"
No more flirty calls
I surrender all!

All I am, all I will be
Is just for you and you
For better for best
Till death do us part
Can I kiss my Jewel now?
This is a true life story
The story ofYes I do
And she said "Yeeeeeesssss!"

I don't know
But I want to know
If you do know
Why don't I know
Is the knowing exclusive?
Knowledge ls power
What worked in the Industrial age
Might not work in the technology age
But if you don't know
How will you know?

Ask relevant questions
That you may know better
Then, you will be illuminated
Because knowledge beautifies
But it is in the knowing
Therefore seek to know
Knowledge is power
Those that knows
Are seated in high places
That's where we are right now

Know the basics
Apply the principles
Practice the "Known"
And let the knowledge pay
In your primary school, you learn principles
In your secondary school,you learn practice
In your university, you learnmanagement
And in reality, you face lifematics
Arm yourself with the latest
I will see you at the top!

I watched the cut
Blood flowed freely
In a tiny muffled voice
I tried to protest
But they overcame
With the blade, razor sharp

I cried and wriggled
As pain enveloped me
In my pain they merried
Singing in discordant tunes
Seeing beauty in my tragedy
My factory settings they distorted

How could i have given consent?
As a child, I couldn't
I was helplessly helpless
Like a thief i was restrained
Until you took a part of me
Can I ever forgive you?

Promiscuity is a choice
Same for virginity
It has no relation;
With cutting my nerve ends
My sensitive genital tissue
Lend a voice, stop the act

In my world of ecstasy
I get decreased satisfaction
With low self-esteem
All thanks to you
By playing God
In the name if tradition

Stop Female Genital Mutilation
It's a violation of right
The world is against it
If the All-Knowing curated me
In HIS image and likeness
And said I am "Made whole"
It means I was born perfect

My love for you,
Like a candle that doesn't loose its flame
Despite the breeze of trials blown.

My love for you,
Like a fabric that doesn't wear
Despite it's frequent wash
In the water of despair

My love for you,
Like a boat out in the sea
That sinks not despite the tempest storms

My love for you,
Is just like a rose flower
Whose fragrance lingers even when crushed

My love for you,
Constantly burning in my heart
Pure and eternal
My love for you
Is life.

Take me back to yesterday
When holiness ******* prosperity
When churches won souls
Not the craze for numbers and money

Take me back to yesterday
When we taught moral instructions
Where teachers were models
Not paedophiles and opportunists
How I so miss yesterday!

Take me back to yesterday
When girls covered up
Knelt to greet Elders
Fetched from the stream
Where *** before marriage was a taboo

Today, celebrities project immoralities
Singers praise corrupt persons
Officers collect bribes
Contracts and admission are for highest bidders
Please take me to yesterday

Take me back to yesterday
When men married women
Women married men
Where we raised respectable boys and girls
Not sadomasochists and sadists

Take me back to yesterday
Where politicians served us
We looked up to them
Today, the table is turned
But from the beginning;
It was not so

Take me back to yesterday
Where we rubbed organic
You call it Coconut oil
I call it "Adi Agbon"
Where we wore "Shuku" in all shades
And adorned in beautiful beads

I miss yesterday
Hence my poetic pen drips
If you miss yesterday
Come ride with me
Let's go back to yesterday
That we may better our tomorrow

Oh! Africa!
Let me tell you
About my dearest Africa
The cradle of human civilization
The land of wonders!

Undoubtedly, the second most populous
Of all the continents
Where Gazzeles run to survive
And Lions pursue to feed
In a battle of survival

Let me tell you about Africa
Covering six percent of earths surface
Home to Nelson Mandela
And greats like Fela Anikulapo Kuti

But for Ethiopia and Liberia
We were all colonised
Introduced to foreign gods and culture
In all these occurrence
We never forgot Africa!

170millon of us speak Arabic
130million speak French
With over 2000 different languages
We are the kings of diversity

Let me tell you about Africa
Where we hold the ace
As the hottest continent on earth
Surely, a noble bragging right!

Go back to your history books
Let's set the record straight
Africa is not a country
Neither do we live on trees
It is a blessed and peculiar continent

Let me tell you about Africa
Where our only problem is governance
And corruption reigns supreme
Oh! Africa! My Africa!

Wait a second!
Are you planning a getaway?
Visit the Omo River in Ethiopia
The birthplace of Emperor Halie Selasie

Would you like to track Gorillas?
Then would love it
The Virunga Mountains of DR Congo
It is worth all your penny

The breathe taking scenery
That Zanzizar offers
Will make you relocate to Africa
Surely we are
The real Ministers of Enjoyment

If you want a birds view
Of our beautiful continent
Make it to the tallest mountain in Africa
Mountain Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
It stands at 19,340feet

Kenya reminds you of nature
Cape Town, our most beautiful City
The Mummies and Pyramids of Egypt
And the delicacies of Calabar, Nigeria

It is appointed to die once
But before you do
Visit our beautiful continent
Your life will never remain the same
That your education may be complete
And I hope this inspires you!

Alone in the sands
The fields was yellow
It lost its greenery
What could have happened?
Make haste, get the soothsayers

Even the palms
They swayed not
Not that the beauty was lost
But in their dance
Lies that Sweet sound

I could see the cloud
Far from thence
This mystery we must solve
A puzzle we must demystify

As the pride passed by
The King followed behind
Abomination! A Lion King leads from the front
Whatever caused this blackness
Surely permeated his kingdom
His pride was hurt

Let's call the wise one
Suggested the Mice
For the King speaketh not
Like a sprinter he arrived
The wise old Tortoise
Only him has the answer

He conjured; poured wine
That their king may live
He made several atonements
To the lords of the night
Then his offering was accepted
The secrets were revealed

I have seen him fight
But today, it is not by strength
He has lost his Queen
The Queen of his heart
Who can atone the Lion King
None!

And just suddenly
Her heart belongs to another
But how can he fight
When he is disadvantaged
How can he fight
When he is seen as a weakling
He had lost his pride

Where do we go from here?
The wise one said
Like a well rehearsed song
All chanted in solidarity
Forward!
Fall eight times, rise the night

And so it happened
The pride of the King
Has just fallen for another
None can appease him
But in him lies greatness
For surely, he will rise again

And who knows, just maybe
He will find love again
It never happened before
But the Lion King cried
Who will clean his tears?
Who?

Time is a commodity
Short in supply
I can't wait anylonger
That's why I want to worship
In your sacred altar
But where do I start from?

The road looks narrow
As I journey through the aisle
Marching towards the prize
That we may mingle and rumble
In an atmosphere of bliss
Worshiping in harmony

You smiled back saying
If you really want to worship
Put a ring on it
That I be yours and you be mine
A risk I am willing to take
Till death do us part

If that's all it takes
I will travel all the way
Walk through the seven seas
For in you, I find me
The bone of my bone
Put a ring on it
That we may workship forever
And happily ever after

Please i need help
Don't leave me like this
I can't sleep
They say it's sleep-onset insomnia
But from the beginning
It was not so

Maybe it is psychological
Their pains in my heart
With pictures of them
Begging for their lives
But i still cannot sleep
And from the beginning
It was not so

Their bulging eyes
As they take their last breathe
To a journey of no return
Their offense
Victims of a failed system
But from the beginning
It was not so

Why are brothers killing brothers
Brothers killing sisters
Sisters killing brothers
Wiping out communities
For the glory of what?
Where is our morals?
The spirit of comrado?
But from the beginning
It was not so

Though obscure
We need to ask
Where are the jobs?
Who has the reins?
That has stagnated Africa
Black people, black mind
A phrase that depicts backwardness

Even the Heavens have Guardians
Nothing passes their sight
They have been enfired
To neutralize aggressors
But, can my brother be an aggressor?
Trust at your peril
That's where we find ourselves

In the Jungle
It's "No man's land"
Where the strong prey on the weak
As long as you are powerful
Or seemingly untouchable
You are licensed to ****
Africa bleeds
Yes, Africa bleeds.

Each time you strike
A wife looses a husband
The children; a father
The family; a breadwinner
The Community; a philanthropist
The nation; an Ambassador
Africa; an illustrious son

Stop cattle rustling
Stop political machinations
Stop hate speeches
Especially From the altar of religion
The internet inclusive,
For it is divisive
Stop the killings
That Africa may live
And not just survive

Break the walls
Let's build bridges
Open up your enclosures
That i may come in
And dine with you
That is how life was programmed

To achieve our SDG's
Our ******* is prime
That your people be my people
My people, your people
That we may give the boy child a life
And the girl child a voice
And build the Africa of our dream

The carnage in Rwanda
Aparthied in South Africa
Insurgency in Libya
The killings in Nigeria
Mirrors the travails of Africa
Rooted in corruption
All must stop now

How did we get here?
A people divided
Along ethnic and religious lines
Detached along tribal and economic
But from the beginning
It was not so

We are tired of bloodsheds
We demand peace
The white on the Nigerian flag
Invisibly tainted in red
Being the blood of the innocent
But surely, nothing lasts forever
For surely, justice will be served

Stop saying "Kafasasu"
As our heart bleeds
When you open up our brothers
With your knives and weapons of mass destruction
Sending them into a journey
A journey into the unknown
Oh gods of our ancestors
Where are thou?

The God of our creation
Send us a Moses
That will lead us from where we are
To where we ought to be
Our promised land of peace and unity
Equity and justice
That we may return with offerings

Stop the rustlings!
Stop destroying our crops
No life should equate that of animals
No animal should be silenced unjustly
Why do you think prayers are said
Before any animal is slaughtered?
The act is sacred
Friends, we are all animals
In different shades and sizes
But place premium on life

Once i saw a documentary
Featuring a helpless Antelope
Feeding her young
Until a pride of Lion approached
As her young sprinted
The mother waited and sacrificed
A sweatless feast for the Kings
But the Eagle watched
She could have helped
Enough of nonchalance
Get on and be engaged

Praying for Africa is a beginning
Taking conscious steps is progress
That the Creator may hear our voices
And have mercy on us
Let my people be your people
Give me a damsel from your clan
I will give you a Prince from my tribe
That we may unite

Refuse to be nonchalant
Refuse to be intimidated
Especially on the part of justice
Let us come together
As a people of one race
That we may build Africa
And the world at large
Not by the sword
But the strength of our unity
For all these ills
From the beginning
It was not so

Babatunde Raimi (c)
Author/Life Coach/Poet