2002 Poem by Danladi Tauhid

2002
A great decision yet so uncertain
A year that changed so many things
Such was 2002 to me
For I was so well recognized
And so well respected
By those with whom I work
They saw in me a comrade
Who could stick out his neck
For them
We laughed and sorrowed together
The latter been very rare
But we fought together
To better our lot
Great brothers and sisters
Made to hold the chalk
And so we lived and loved
Never knowing whom to trust
And even when some would align
With establishment
Very often anti-workers
Most of us stuck together
But I had already made name
Anti-establishment and radical
And so was watched by those
Who mean no well for the workers
Always conservative and selfish
While we continued the struggle

2002
The message came to me
To pick another job
I had just finished course work
for my M.A degree
And had built a reputation
as a die-hard unionist
Well beloved by friends
Who thought I fight so well
In the courses we believe
They would not want me to leave
After all they are the same
Tertiary institutions
But I never thought that way
Because in the polytechnic
I had stepped on toes
Always fighting our course
But these are comrades I hate to leave
The academia is a place
Where freedom of thought is good
When you are fighting just course
So these are comrades I'd hate to leave
And so I fought to weigh the cost
of staying or leaving there
To a little known place I wonder
Times are indeed out of joint
But I do know for sure
That they would surely be fixed

Even my boss wondered
Would I take the leap in the dark?
In spite of his resentment
For this brave unionist
But it seems the die was cast
Such a decision is hard
What awaits me over there?
I know it may not be the same

And here I had a reputation
An anti-establishment
When indeed all that I do
Is to fight for my people
My primary constituency
But then it dawns on me
It is indeed time to move
This new place beckons to me
So it was in April
that I took the final plunge
First few months I hated myself
My friends had warned me not to
As that place beckons to me

O time! , what have I done?
I have lived in Zungeru
and begotten children there
I had started from the low
to an enviable level
see what mess I pushed myself
Thoughts flying round my mind
what have I done to myself?
Oh, what have I done to myself! ?

2002
A year that vegetate
With green and red memories
Having survived first year
Though benumbed by change
I began next to pick
the pieces of me
If am not going away
I must find a way to survive
Though so hard it has been
Terrible memories that would not go away
Then 2005 a far worse experience was in wait
And that was the denial that has spanned
Almost a decade
I was to remain on one level
for as long as who knows
Because am a teacher not crowned
such a goofy remark
When I gave my youth and age
to no less a job
Teaching have been my life
Here I was been told
You need so and so to move
that can make you a teacher
If only my old colleagues would know what I see
leaving and coming here

2002
The only solace today
Is in those I have groomed
Is in those I have taught
Who look up so much to me
Making me happy in my course
And thanking them so much for it
And when I see that my Lord
Have been so kind to me
Giving me to eat and live for
For in His face I see my goal in life
And so that everything else
Pales behind the great mission
To love and cherish my Lord
Who give me to eat and live

2002
A year to remember
I have encountered many defeats
But I have resolved
Not to be defeated.