No Change

Ours is a nation of “No Change!”
Before, we said it in the foreign language
of masters across the seas and oceans
“No change!” we hollered.
But fortunate for us indeed 
that we have the only man 
with a vision heading our nation;
he smoothly translated it for us
into a language we better understand
“Pakalast!” we now scream.

“No change!”
 “Pakalast!”
How true that is!
From time immemorial,
we have lived so;
ancestral chiefs and kings,
colonial masters and presidents of the Republic,
we have bowed in awe to all,
reliving and reliving
the atrocious slogan,
“No change!”

“No change!”
“Pakalast!”
We are bound by the vicious cycle of 
a nation without  rule of law,
chained to the shackles of autocratic rulers
who claim to be champions of change.
“Pakalast!”


“No change!”
 “Pakalast!”
We are mired deep in the ditch of abject poverty, 
teeming with unwaged youths,
murdered by state organs
sapped of all human consciousness,
weighed down like a drowning man
by scandals upon scandals of corruption 
with great farces of elections
“Pakalast!”

“No change!”
 “Pakalast!”
We are a nation of no change,
a nation of no hope,
our people too weary to do anything
but to squeal the slogan 
in voices callused by despondency 
 “No change!”
“Pakalast!”
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Be the first to comment on this poem. Encourage this poet.

Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace