There Was A Country Poem by DANIEL ESSIEN

THERE WAS A COUNTRY

there was a country with hope.
hoped for the best
the best it citizens can afford
but the country was...
until now..
yes until CHANGE
it has indeed changed the country

May her gentle hope
rest in no turbulence.
Lament the joy of the past;
The smile of tears in sorrow
The sorrows that hail in the past

We tested it- joy, but in the past.
But as a compensation to our foolishness
The past was heaven compeer to present
The past was a savor of horror
The horror that shook peace-
Peace that ceased lives and celebrated death.

We have seen the present
Its years, ‘56 ' full of brutality of faith,
Tradition, ethnicity and politicization of the real fate.
The dismays that is unfolding
Are just tales yet untold;
The future is bright but in plight
The future is a rock-
the rocky sand of hope
The hope of failure seems sure
Though success seem pure.
In current affairs, pendulum kicks us apart
Than hope in togetherness.

The country of our father existed in the past
Though geographical entity
But ideological, faith and politics apart
Where is the hope that we hoped?
Where are the fates we claimed?
Where is the nation we had?
Has the cruel heart of selfish being
Corrupt our conscience of humanity?
Think the thoughts of our fathers
The founders of this nation.
Should we believe that…
"there was a country? "
Hmmmmm
It only a thought to the wise.

Written on 56 anniversary of Nigeria Independence; 1st Oct.2016