I Have Known This Land

Conceived and born in the rainforest I have traversed the Savanna and the Mangrove I have trudged through its Swamp And dwelt I have in its Woodland But I only bear tales of The Montane and the Marginal Savanna I have beheld its landscape With the Yellow trumpet spreading its wings Like a peacock exhibiting its splendor And taken shade under the Neem tree While its Masquerade and Eucalyptus trees Shield us from the sun’s afternoon anger I have known its two largest rivers And its highest heights at Chappal Waddi I have seen the rocks at Olumo, Zuma and Aso And the beauty its coastlines once harboured I have danced in its rainfall and borne its desert dust And heard myths of plateaus in Mambila, Jos and Obudu I have heard the drums, flutes and maracas of its sons And seen maidens from diverse tribes and tongues Wriggle with beads across their waists and ankles While men swallow morsels of cassava and millet And drown themselves in wine eked from palm While we feast on the flesh of sacrificial beasts I have known this land and its riches in Marble, gold, sapphire, salt, oil and timber Yet, like the stars of the skies, I am unable To number its armies of tired and hungry masses Who enthrone kings but must paupers remain Because their forebears swore to oaths of servitude I have seen this land wrestle with destiny And chiefs of the tribes growl like crabs Proclaiming that the different marks on our faces And symbols of our creed make us fish and bird I have seen patriots metamorphose into traitors And builders of monuments hold the garments Of those that brazenly rape the old woman