October 19th Poem by Benjuzzy Okpuzor

Today on chain, and cage, justice
Murdered, and maimed, truth Nailed, broken and buried!

Delayed action, has emboldened
The farm robber, to apprehend
The farm owner!

On the race of struggle, and
Survivor, which led to the cell
Dungeon, and sojourn of a poet,

Friends, and foes who forgot who
We were, tears of a fellow brother
In blood drop,

Broken thoughts, spoken
Thoughtlessly to the wall, with
The darkness, as my witness;

Blood of an innocent soul, sold to
Slavery, a callous witch hunt of
The affluent to the afflict!

Laying in their play of laity;
My blood blaze like babylon
Burning furnace, yet I can only

Blame those barbarians for this
Civil, evil;
From my toddling days till date

I have been beaten for that which
I knew not, I see myself dying for
Another's sin, that whenever

There is a curse my name is
Called! How hard the heart of Men; that night and out

We fed on the remain's of the Dons, and dogs;
And with the rod of their wrath,

I wail my way for mercy;
Will there ever be zion in this
Babylon I wonder!

Let they that went the way of
Cain, and ran greedily for their
Own reward, beware of the

Gain saving core, and cur of it!
Today I breath the free air of
Freedom, my heels will remain

In his holy house of healing
Yet those who sold Joseph to slavery
Shall someday come back to
Bow before him.