If We Say We Are Not One (Part One) Poem by Emmanuel Joseph Olumakiss

If by morrow before the setting of a new dawn
We decide to go our separate ways
Chosen the name we're to be called
And no longer the ones given by our foster parents
As we make for ourselves separate images
Parting from our usual slang and entity
Yawning to embrace nationhood
With diverse and unchanged mindsets
Divided by land, air and the sea side
Will our diversity ever get resolved?
After gain yet another freedom on a black apparel
At the expense of plundered multitudes
Could they still be a saint in our time
that will make our life fully complete?
Without invitation to fire and brimstone
If by morrow on our way to see a new day
We no longer act as one
Neither sip from our village stream
May be as a result of contamination of the mind
Who do we cast the blame on our way home?
When again our unity got broken like earthen pot
Tearing into pieces
And no longer suit for men of our tribes
Fighting yet another war with machete and machine guns
Seeking yet for another freedom
When the centre could not hold
North forbid South
And East turn their back on the West coast
Finding it hard the next route to go through
Isn't our problem too deep when looked from the inner circle
Seeing our flaw and fairytale
Seeing its in our blood this stain and scar
Pushing our initial love to a far end
On the arrival of a new nation
A nation with beast of many burdens
A new nation with new expectation
And character assassination
If suddenly we chose to go this path
Allow our proximity cut short
Yet in no distant time another nation is likely to be given birth to.