A POEM for my Country- Nigeria
It has always been a bitter-sweet relationship with you
If I am being honest
The bitter supersedes the sweet
I was once innocent, emotional and hopeful
But you played me dirty because I was vulnerable
I got hurt and I flipped
I became numb and hopeless
I decided to focus only on myself and family
And to never consider you in my decisions
Because I felt cheated by you
Then I discovered that I could not do without you
You are me and I am you
We are entwined
You make up my blood and genes
And I simply cannot exist without you
Even when I try so hard to deny you
Then I thought,
If I want to be better
I have to help you be better too
Neither of us can do it alone
We rub off on each other
And because I am desperate to become a better version of me
I must help you be better.
Although I am no more the naive one I used to be,
For our mutual good,
I choose to have a change of heart.
For you, I will be that bride
Who refuses to leave her abusive husband
Because she strongly hopes and believes that someday
Her resilience and wit will eventually pay off
And she can finally have that great family she always dreams of.
If my sacrifice alone does not suffice,
I believe there are others,
More than a few,
Who will stand with me
To make a sacrifice big enough
For your redemption.
Oh yes, I am referring to you NIGERIA!
I will do that for you
For my own good.
Copyright © Vwerosuoghene Abioye, 2020
All rights reserved.
