Agony of a Country

Here we are trapped and bound
By evil forces difficult to fathom 
Here we are naturally endowed 
With all of God’s blessings 
While 133 million of our children 
Wail nightly on empty bowels
Confused and traumatized 
Where the next meal will
Come from
Our eyes are wet with tears
Tears of pains and frustration from a nation 
So blessed and so cursed
Tears of National disillusionment of
Living daily the consequences of our wrong choices 
And like the Ostrich relishing in denial
Of self imposed existential tragedy 
Here we are suffering and smiling
And cuddling our oppressors 
As heroes and urging them on
To another season of looting in exchange
For a mere pot of putrefied porridge 
Now is the call to action
We need to free ourselves
From this army of political occupation

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Sally Eslinger

Date: 2/7/2023 5:20:00 AM

Augustine, this is an accomplished poet’s statement of profound and disturbing truth. Is there freedom of speech there? Are there poet friends there with whom you share? A superb, talented penning. Hugs, sally

Augustine Ogoegbunam Eseke
Date: 2/16/2023 6:22:00 PM

Sally,thank you so much for your lovely comment on my poem.it is a shame I have just seen it now! I must confess that I have been so engrossed for some days now, in the dizzying pace of events in my country that I have not gone to my poems lately. Of course there is freedom of speech here in Nigeria to the extent that you can freely express yourself on any issue! But the tragedy is who really cares? Who really pays attention to what you are saying? At present I do not have poet friends here in Nigeria or even outside the country with whom I share any literary work, nor belong to any literary association.I write occasionally to express what I strongly feel about on any subject and publish it on poetry soup! I think this is time to pay more attention to my poetry! Thank you Sally, your comment on my poem has really made my day!