A Birth Of A Nation Poem by Dr Anthony Onoja

Set the bush on fire, boys lighting matchboxes,
A new dawn about to be born
Boys with dogs, singing songs of hope,
Through Ideme's bushy paths, cutlasses basking.
Tattered attire, soot-blackened from burning leaves,
Digging with strength, fearing none, daring dread.
Idoma peaceful time of hope

Freshwaters bubbling from Onipi hill, Okpokwu river flourishing.
The Fulani herders salute the farmers.
We went wild in 1960, Nigeria was born from tribes,
Songs of freedom with Awo, Balewa, and Zik,
Unity strengthens, a unicorn in the gun of Africa.

Flee the huts, hunting our last, city-bound trains we aloft,
Secure our loots from Zik's elephant catch.
Balewa waves and made us all proud from Washington
Awo seeks to educate us all

Chaos struck from the Caliphate,
Unity lost, our hope devoured.
Uniformed men came, the drums of fear
tilted to the chaos of war and crime.
Our villages agog with dead
Tell Mama, we return with empty hands.
Our elders are haunted by their caves
Nigeria is now a monster eating her young.

Our energy, hope, and patriotism all mustard in hate,
We inspire hope but die in despair.
Hope that tomorrow will be better than today,
Nigeria, has gone mad, with a spree of blood and dust.