What Was The Gift? Poem by John Ugolo Umah

Given to us immorality
they took away our morals

they blanketed our culture
with their traditions

they bought from us life
with their papers

then, it was our culture
now, it is their own we live

they invaded with big shoes
and killing sticks

so we can give up
with our slaying irons

they cover our ignorance
with their civilization

they stole from us and do said
they gave to us life to know death

they took away our tomorrow
and gave us yesterday

they were here to exploit
we open up for them to come in

these they said
is colonization

these they call their gifts to us
these I ask, is this the civilization?