Poetry

By

Ngozi Olivia Osuoha

BEASTS OF BURDEN

politics, my wayward brother

Religion, sword of vengeance

Terrorism, holiness of saints;

Not and not the donkey.

Corruption, coat  of leaders

Injustice, friend of commoners

Moral decadence, motto of youths;

Never and never the Carmel.

Rotten value system, societal ladder

Debased education, rulers’ treasure

Neutralized products, moguls’ livelihood;

Not and never the horse.

Violence, mission of rivals

War, oath of cabals

Hate, sermon of champions;

Not and never the elephant.

Racism, target of warriors

Rape, bond of heroes

Abuse, order of legends;

Chaos, beasts and monsters.

Not the donkey, never the Carmel

Neither the horse nor the elephant,

Beasts of burden, hurricane-power

Beasts of burden, humanity-quake.

MAMA AFRICA

From childhood, you were betrothed

To a fate unknown and mysterious,

From adolescent, you faced it

The cruelty of poverty,

From sisterhood, you saw it

The fierceness of competition,

From spinsterhood, you endured it

The harshness of being female,

From motherhood, you tasted it

The real texture of lack and want,

From womanhood, you suffered it

The archaic nature of culture,

From widowhood, you swallowed it

The bitterness of death,

I love you Mama Africa.

Trekked to Nkwo and Eke

Orie, Afor, every market day

Sold for food, clothes, school fees

Climbed mountains to fetch water

Climbed trees for firewood,

Dared darkness and loneliness

A warrior, queen, an Amazon.

You gave birth in the farm

Market square and roadside,

Fought and won death severally

Conquered crudity and nudity.

Young, strong, rich and well

Healthy, wealthy, great and green

Tall, holy, beautiful and educated

Short, unholy, ugly and illiterate

Witch, wizard, sick and weak

Bedridden, forbidden, banished, ostracized

Old, raggy, shabby and haggard

Memory loss, irritating smell

Shapeless, senseless, sagged breasts

Gray hairs, wrinkles, shrinking

Anyhow, I love you Mama Africa

Ngozi Olivia Osuoha

Ngozi Olivia Osuoha is a young writer from Nigeria. From a family of eight, including both parents she is the second daughter but fourth child. She read Estate Management and has some experience in Banking and Broadcasting.

She has published some works in a Liberian magazine, Ghanian news platform and an Indian poetry publication.

Many of her works have gone abroad for evaluation and publication. She wrote the longest poems/rhymes in the world, yet to be published. Writing is life.