The Raid By Ogechi Veronica Poem by OGECHI VERONICA

In my mother's hut
I lay,
Peacefully,
In harmony, we lived
Enjoying the warmth
And sweet caresses of the cool breeze
Until the raiders came


They saped our palmtree
Milked us and laid us bare
Our last penny
They feasted on
I was enticed
Blinded by his handsomeness
And goodwill


I signed the treaty
I endorsed our doom
So cleverly, he acted
On the sea of my ignorance
He took my pride
With his bait of good fortune
I was innocently hooked


He taught me his customs
I threw away our culture
His God, he brought
I abandoned mine
He usurped my strength
I am drained
He gave me guns and beautiful accessories
A barter for my mother's oil
His trade, he promised to bequeath me
With his wisdom, he traded my ignorance


Cunningly, he took over my father's estates
Ruling over my brothers
And they became slaves
In his plantations
They worked tirelessly
Earning pitiless scorn
I watched tearfully
But kept mute fearfully



Mazi Okonkwo raised a finger
Alas, they executed him
They became chiefs and overlords
In a foreign land
Fearfully and like a god
We become their messengers.