The Coat Of Arms (Nig.) Poem by konye ori

It is as though,
that black shield that once protected us
from the spears of dearth
is rusted and shattered-
And now those spears pierce flesh and bones

It is as though,
those sparkling rivers of golden pearls
that once met in lokoja, whispering life
with every dancing tide
now meet in lokoja just to wash down to delta

It is as though,
in the eye seducing garden field
where white horses once stood-
pigs now stand
fore-arms- supporting that shattered shield
and their snouts prying around the wreath of that life giving soil

They trample on the Costus Spectabilis with their hooves;
hurting the beauty of the terra-firma
as they struggle to stand upright in the pose like horses

It is as though,
a scrawny vulture with brownish measly feathers
has taken the place of the red eagle
that has flown away; southward

And it is as though,
the faces of unity, faith, peace and progress
are covered in pig dung
and the vulture droppings has messed the wreath.