The Odyssey At Centenary Poem by Ufuoma Komiti

THE ODYSSEY AT CENTENARY

The odyssey now in its centenary
It was odyssey began with absentia
One devoided of regards from our wanton
Disimilarities and pluralities

Of religions, tribes, ethnicities …but
Gave prominess to the complexion - black
One with the dictates and con of strangers
Parading themselves as exponents of
Civilization of the naïve wide world
All but for the lust and love, weird and warp of
Imperialist and capitalist spreading
Southern and northern poles with the Niger
Whose veins innocent blood has often flowed

How long do we continue this
When will you ever flow waters
When will you ever give respites
When will you ever flow waters
That nourish and nurture their beings
Waters that irrigate farm lands
And waters of dams, dams of powers?

Those who put us this way had we wittingly forced
To flee and we say ‘good riddance to bad rubbish'
And now a century has gone by yet crawling
Now it is time we sat dawn to dialogue to end
This self-sack for a wrack of our collective brains
For a peaceful parting, for a co-existence
We certainly must say no to say yes or one
Perhaps there can really be unity and strength
Only in agreed, not aggrieved diversity.