Civilian And Soldier Poem by Wole Soyinka

Civilian And Soldier

Rating: 3.5


My apparition rose from the fall of lead,
Declared, 'I am a civilian.' It only served
To aggravate your fright. For how could I
Have risen, a being of this world, in that hour
Of impartial death! And I thought also: nor is
Your quarrel of this world.

You stood still
For both eternities, and oh I heard the lesson
Of your traing sessions, cautioning -
Scorch earth behind you, do not leave
A dubious neutral to the rear. Reiteration
Of my civilian quandary, burrowing earth
From the lead festival of your more eager friends
Worked the worse on your confusion, and when
You brought the gun to bear on me, and death
Twitched me gently in the eye, your plight
And all of you came clear to me.

I hope some day
Intent upon my trade of living, to be checked
In stride by your apparition in a trench,
Signalling, I am a soldier. No hesitation then
But I shall shoot you clean and fair
With meat and bread, a gourd of wine
A bunch of breasts from either arm, and that
Lone question - do you friend, even now, know
What it is all about?

Monday, December 22, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: soldier
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Poet Sam Madeyin 12 July 2022

Great grandscale for living

0 0 Reply
Poet Sam Madeyin 12 July 2022

Great theme of Coercieveness course!

1 0 Reply
Kizito nwaeze 15 August 2020

Wow nice fabulious pOwn, But sir How do í know where the subject matter , flow to

1 2 Reply
RENAISSANCE 20 April 2018

Add a comment.This is for those who think they own the country... Nigeria

1 2 Reply
Poet Sam Madeyin 12 July 2022

Great read indeed.

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Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka

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