Harcourt Noble (February 6,1996 / Onelga, Rivers State, NIgeria.)

I was born asleep
Because i was born when the day was dark
I was born when there no moon
And when the sun has lost its glory
I grew up in the room
When it was day
I was locked up
When it was night
I was only permitted to go out and see the moon
I never saw the day
I was born asleep

I was born asleep
Because in the night
I ate no good food
Even inside the house
I wore no good clothes
Except from the fragment
sewn from my tailor uncle
Things that can never cover the body
Neither prevent cold
I was inside thinking
That the world is like that
I was born asleep

I was born asleep
Because only in the dreams
I saw good things
That can ease the life of man
I saw tarred road
Good electricity, Pipe-Borne water
Infact all social Amenities
I saw what it meant by love
Whether from parents or love ones
Only to wake up asleep
To see the day so dark
I was born asleep

I was born asleep
Because of the troubling world
I heard crisis every where
And there is worrying and warring
I was happy to hear other countries fight
But sad to know my own was worse
from the nuclear family to the extended
From kindred to clan
From village to state to Country
Every where was dark as
I was born asleep

I was born asleep
Because of the bad government
Ruling the nation
They come with their sugar-coated tongue
Ans hypnotizing manifestoes
For our illiterates parents to vote for them
And allow them to seat on those seats
If only my eyes were open
I would have told them it was wrong
But in this predicament and condition
Every where was blank because
I was born asleep

I was born asleep
Because I was sitting on the fence
Whether to be a science or Art student
Whether to be a christian or Muslim
Whether to be good or to be bad
Whether to be single or to be married
Whether to laugh or to cry
Whether to live or to die
I don't know
For there are no counselors
And my eyes were close
I was born Asleep

I was born asleep
Because I don't know
Who I am
Where I am
What I will become
Why i am alive or
Why i should be dead
When am I to experience light
Why! Why! ! Why! ! !
If my eyes were to be open
I was born asleep.