Africa Poem by Chukuemeka Akpe

A patchwork of decorated combatant lords
Stitched together with diverse fragile cords
Into a tapestry of nations hung on frail words.

A pariah of immense but modest beauty
Ogled from afar for her acclaimed booty
Yet shunned by peers for being naughty.

Heavily burdened with debt as rocks
She totters in a race with global jocks
Weeping as Poverty tirelessly mocks.

Verdant carpets that wrap her massive girth
Are denuded by green hands to horrid mirth
Exposing her to warmth and wanton dearth.

The stallions of hatred stir up still genocidal dusts
Blinding riders to decimate with long cruel thrusts
Their Rivers of Blood washing out brotherly trusts.

This corner of the orb is plagues’ haven
Rushing the children untimely to heaven
Hair-raising populations crudely shaven.

Fledglings trained not for construction
But to caress weaponry of destruction
Maim and kill to General’s instruction.

The shackles of slavery loudly gabble
Peals of progress to the young and able
Lured away to strange lands with a fable.

Subjects serve masters in pinions
Gagged to imprison their opinions
They toil day and night as minions.
.
The ruler extends his span sipping founts of greed
Voted out of office only by death as nature’s creed
His worn throne then bequeathed to a similar breed.

Africa!


February 2005