A Visitation To My Late Father Poem by DANIEL ESSIEN

It was of this day
In years back that she was born
Though she existed before her birth
The hope was high
The people rejoice
Our freedom is come
We dwell now in our own kingdom
And ruled by our elites
We are free
But is it indeed
Or in pit?
Our sun is risen
From the west wing of October
On the first wing of nineteen hundred and sixty
We are alive
Our eyes have seen our quest
Our children shall live in this land as one
In peace and harmony
They shall rule themselves in justice
And they all shall rejoice.
I tell you they shall live like brothers
Not minding their region or religion
They shall live not minding their tongues
Indeed my children shall prosper for the land is bless
Bless of human
Bless of resources
And bless by nature
Indeed my children shall live in glory.

Oh my sons where are thy brethren?
Are they well?
Is the land well?
Are thy brothers in peace and justice?
Are they prospering?
My son is all well with my country?

Father we are doomed
The land is filled with agony, injustice
Killing of my own brethren by my brothers,
Nepotism, corruption and mismanagement of public office,
Tyranny is the order of our government.
Father, we have lost the land you gave us
To terrorism and selfish rulers.
Father, blessings of the resources
Are now curses
Fathers, in your days you exported the crude
And imported the refined
Till date, father it has not changed.
Father, look my face filled with tears.
Those you trained to take over from you
Are still the ones ruling.
They are old but won't let go governance.
Father, our land is not longer ours
Animals are valued more than our lives
In fact, impunity of government is abused.
Elections are done in violence and rigging.
Since you left father, nothing has changed,
Our situation is worst than when you were here.
You told us to be hopeful, that it shall be well
I am old now, should I tell my children same?

My son I feel you pains and plight.
Cry no more, next election shall make the difference.

Father, how can this be
The same people that ruled in time past are still ruling.
They jump from party to party looking for ruling opportunity.
Father, remember you always told me
"A forest does not change the skin of a leopard"
The same people jumping from party to party
With fake promises and propaganda.
Father, we are doomed.

Our education lives' in past glory
Our hospitals are death trap cos it is poorly equipped.
Our elites treat themselves and families overseas.
Our judiciary is a pen in the hands of executives and legislature.
Father, patriotism ended with they who gave us independence.
Security is no more, as a new breed of herdsmen
Kill your children for no reason and feed their crops to their cattle.
Father, I am not done but have to go
Our problems is beyond a visit discourse.
I shall tell you the update in my next visit
That shall be in the three hundred and sixty five days time.
Stay well and my regards to your fellow patriots.
Hint them of current plight.
If I survive these heat, I shall tell you more
But if not my children shall tell us.

Peace
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