Iroma (Snail) Poem by Vincent Onyeche

Iroma,
Happy October
Do we regret or rejoice
Over your independence
When corruption, negligence,
And institutionalizing democracy still prevails?
 

Chukwu,
Our fleshy tissue freezes and heart bleeds.
Should your faithful servants
Tell the plebs
To stand or take on heels  
 As the sandy valleys turns rocky hills?
You haven’t failed us, but
The Oceans are dried lakes.
Fishes are strangulating and,
The most awful is that,
Big whales are comfortable
In the dried lakes…What do we do?
 

Iroma… Hurry up!
Why allow the maestros
Tune to your sluggish pace
For sunshine has turned night-rays
Chalk and cheese, is your
Progress and prolong; big rivals!
 
To succumb to the alum?
Osolobue! Le’
Look at your plebs
Sliding and snail-stepping 
Along faceless fate of the sluggish Iroma.