South Poem by Uche Nwanze

I was born in the South, weaned and reared down South, sometimes I wish my bloodline were up north
I've never been up north, life down South is fun and torn
Still wonder why the South looks down my shoes in the compass
Scared my efforts will go South, not that I can't shout cos I'm stout
Masquerades like boy scouts with whips menacingly approach the South flank
Parallel lines on a graph, will the South shake hands with the North
The mortal Lugard played he God
In his study he rewrote the script in an unholy connubial
Coax and hoax his weapon, what choice had they, they hold hands feigned smiles on their faces
Friends yet Strangers
Brothers by fate, foes at daggers drawn
They shake hands, will never hold hands
Their beggars wish to go their separate ways has gone South
When will she be free
In a babel of tongues they chorus
A number so great, in adversity they dwell
In brotherhood they stand, only a pipe dream
One Nigeria their mantra, no love lost
No victor no vanquished a scam, the dinner in aburi a farce
She toils and boils, all for nothing
Her toil they foil, washed down the soil of extinction
On the altar the goose sacrificed, ingratitude the wages of her golden eggs
A giant dwarfed by discord
In ruins she lies, her rivers in colour of blood
A nation bound in freedom is possible
A people cocooned in peace and unity we beseech the gods
The day foretold by legend, where lofty heights attained
That day is not today
We wait, yes we await!