Gerald Kithinji Poet Free verse

Fighter

I had tried to tell them 
with the tip of my mighty pen 
That it was useless, this war 
I had, in fact, told them so 
I had said it loud, louder than ever 

But 
Perhaps my mighty pen was not so mighty 
Perhaps my shrill voice was not so vibrant 
Perhaps the audience was not listening 
Perhaps there was no audience at all 

But wait a moment 
I heard the cry, yes, I heard the wailing 
I heard the death-screams, too 
I heard so much that was revolting: 
I heard your importuning voice, too 

And you know what? 
I saw so much ugliness 
I even saw the raw flesh 
Fed to the hungry guns 
And the raw brains 
Scattered to the four winds 
I saw so much revolting stuff: 
I saw your deformed face, too. 

Come here, fighter, come 
What was it you fought for? 
What was it you bled for? 
What was it you died for? 
Come, come here; let me see! 

Tell me frankly, what was the promise? 
Deliverance, did you say? 
Freedom and dignity for the people? 
Tell me, was that the promise? 
Come on, fighter, do not fidget, no! 
Tell me what you fought for- 
If not for these? 

I will tell you, stranger, 
Said the fighter, 
I will shout it out. 
I fought for my land! 
I will build my freedom 
My dignity and my wealth 
On my land!

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