The Wrong Role Model Poem by Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu

Terror was the only hero I knew
He was very muscular and fearful looking
He had a lot of men behind him
He was their master
His words were law
He intimidated people
I could not imagine anyone stronger than him
He rode in the best of cars
He only had to ask and he would be given
It was wonderful knowing him
He had so much power
It was a privilege to see him
I admired him beyond reason
I never saw him smile
Children loved him
He never harmed us
I wanted to become like Terror
I wanted people to fear me
I wanted my words to be law
I refused to go to school
Terror did not go to school
But he had so much power

I named myself Junior Terror
We smoked and drank alcohol
That was what Terror did
I lifted heavy metals
I became very muscular
I looked double my age
I trained to become the strongest person in my group
We defeated other groups
We had to kill and steal to become rich
In a few years
I became the real Terror
Even Terror,
My role model
Was accountable to me
People ran when they heard my name
I was the lord of my community
Nobody dared disobeyed me
I had finally achieved my dream
One day,
I sat in my house smoking
I had guards all around the house
I had all kinds of spiritual powers
I gave a loud laugh at my success
I put my cigarette on the table and slept
I had a terrible dream
I was burning in hell
It felt so real
I could feel my flesh burning
Suddenly, everything went blank
I woke up on a hospital bed
I had been there for two years
I was flabbergasted
I was given the bad news
The fire had left me crippled for life
My skin was a mess
Where were my body guards?
Where were all my powers?
What a wasteful life I have lived
I looked like a monster
I looked three times older than my age
I had no wife
I had no children
Life was not all luxury after all
I took a wrong role model
Regret, remorse
That is what I feel
Had I known…?