Lamentations Poem by Ayandare Mayowa

Of sword and shield
Wasted in vast land and field
Soldiers, strong willed and skilled
Disappeared
But for their sword and shield

Of their wife and kids
Who will care, meet their needs
By their Hero, s bravery, they lounge and feed
Now disappeared
But for their sword and shield

At our fall, foes wine and dine
Laughed and teased
Their God, they ask, where is He?
Saying to their gods we refused to heed

Of stolen waters they quench their thirst
Defied meat constant in their tents
Their daily routine contradicts all you said
But still, there they go lounging in their jets

Oh God, we cried and prayed
Fasted, declared, confessed our wrongs
Exercised restraint, tamed our tongue
But despite this, we are still on the run

Claim not to be perfect
We try to be balanced and fair
Denying not our shortcomings and weaknesses
But for the needy we care, the voiceless get their appointed share

To their gods they chant, to You we praise
To lifeless things they sacrifice, to You we pray
with their substance they indulge self, to You we sacrifice
Still they ask, where is our God

Why not! foreigners live in our good homes
The wicked put on the good clothes
I have rallied round this mountain for so long
While the others have moved on

Poverty, our young girls can hardly put their clothes on
Our brilliant boys toiling, on the innocent they are daily trying to pull a fast one
Wicked folks store up riches for generations unborn
Yet the good ones have nothing to pass on

Comforting to our face
Behind, they laugh us to scorn
And those we look up to in form of help
Desire forever we be their house-help

The ignorant s son run the street
While the seed of the wise soothe their feet
Hagar s sons wrestle and claim all the blessings
While promising Isaac digs but cant find water

So, of myself I ask, where is our God?
Not minding whose Ox is goad
The one after Gods heart, even David said
The Lord hides himself from us

For how long will You wait and watch?
And allow evil prevail in our nation, home and church
The light goes down, the dimness of our torch
No more healing at Solomon's porch

But Hosea said, The Lords ways are right and just
And the righteous, the just shall work in them
I know the foundation of the Lord stands sure and firm
And we cant but sing the hallelujah anthem

Habakkuk declared, the fig tree blossoms not, though the vines without wine
Yet will he rejoice in the Lord, God his salvation
I say you are a righteous Judge, loving, Almighty
Outside of You, their is no other force, power or might

Command victories for your own
Rouse yourself, meddle in our affairs, vindicate and prosper you own
In life turbid situations, prove Your name great,
And let the whole world know You are never slow nor late