LIKE HIM

You look just like him

That is if you are not him

Up the hill he climbs daily

For wounds are dealt on him unfairly.

Oh succor he seeks

As his pen

Tastes the jaggered edges

Of his dog eared

Piece of book he calls

His shield.

You look like him

(That is if you say you are not him)

Who looking up to *Eledumare

Summons up strength

To dare that death

That comes to the mind

And yet he puts on a smile

That could be seen

Even at a mile

You must be him

(Though you disagree)

Who has seen

The darkening white hairs

Of the *leke –leke

And still refuses to give up

On his caged birds of freedom.

You resemble that man

Who still tell his offsprings

Tales by moonlight

Even when he knows

That’ll be all they would eat

For the night.

If you say you are not him

Then, tell him when you meet him

(For surely your paths would cross)

Tell him for me

That the birds are now free

And the tortoise shell smooth.

For *Onyewanyi has heard his plea.

_{*Eledumare – God( Yoruba), *Leke-leke – Egret, *Onyewanyi – Creator/ God(Igbo)}

EKEJIUBA INNOCENT