Akande

On the day we leafed through the glossy magazine pages Scenes from Bar Beach in Lagos I thought of you, Akande Those who are about to die criss crossed in sisal rope to Oil drums lashed to stakes Protesting, begging, praying Finally the moment arrives The Men of God step aside The black hoods are hung Cheers at the festival of death The boom of a firing squad bloodied men in a death slump Robbers, bandits, coup makers Gone now into magazine pages Lawrence Anini - the Law Ishola Oyenusi - the Doctor Godogodo - the hefty one But I don't see you, Akande On a day such as this I can only hope that long ago You escaped the man's noose Or the AK 47 whose sound can sometimes make a man cry (C) mbsaaka/2020