The Shame Of The World Poem by Tyovihi Terwase

Dead bodies floating
in our oceans
from North to the west side of
our Nation.

Crumpled corpses lying
on our beaches
thousands drowned unknown.

Overcrowded detention centers
not unlike concentration camps
behind barbed wires
guarded by police and snarling dogs.

Nobody feels responsible,

notthose who started wars
destroyed whole cities
made millions homeless
and into refugees and camps.

Not those who take advantage
of the chaos for their own gain
abusing the names of their gods
or some ancient figurehead
to excuse their atrocities and greed.

Not those who live
in comfortable homes
and wish the desperate crowds
would just stay on the TV screen
and not come close,

nor those who pretend
to be the guardians
of our great humanitarian heritage
but show no backbone
against nationalist fanatics.

It is the shame of our Nation
to sit and talk and watch
and not do enough.

Remember
those who live by the sword
shall die by the sword,
and those who turn away
the needy and homeless
may one day also lose their homes
forced to rely
on the kindness of strangers,
May God Bless Nigeria.