Cease The Lie Poem by Solomon C Jatta

Cease the lie,
The youth are happy—
They say it loud, they say it snappy.
But what's so sweet about hunger pains?
About chasing jobs that never came?

Cease the lie,
The youth are happy—
While diplomas rot, and pockets stay scrappy.
From Serrekunda to Basse town,
Dreams wear dust, and hope breaks down.

Cease the lie,
The youth are happy—
They loiter streets, minds feeling trappy.
No workshops, no work, just waiting and sighs,
Under the sun with tear-stained eyes.

Cease the lie,
The youth are happy—
When mothers weep and fathers get snappy.
Another son lost to the sea's cold grip,
Chasing Europe on a rubber ship.

Cease the lie,
The youth are happy—
Not when they gamble life for nappy
Beds in lands that treat them worse,
Just to flee a local curse.

Cease the lie,
The youth are happy—
No, we are restless, angry, snappy.
We crave respect, not borrowed dreams,
Not handouts masked in hollow schemes.

Cease the lie,
The youth are happy—
We're tired of lies dressed up so clappy.
Listen close, the truth is loud—
The youth are broken, but still proud.