The Contrast

In slumbering slope they lay, 
their gaiety snores in rhythmic peaks of cadences,
The lily livered japes 
Kings from central castings,
Heroes of one hour, 
jostling  for President with mere words      
Resigned  to bed now, save one. 
Cowards, afraid of prison walls
seeking fame by fraud.


Oh Fame,  how Disinterested
oh time, how revealing 
motives concealed but not to all,
they were boys all along 
impressing us by publicity 
with drama for the surface  


But the sternest stood alone 
though jeered and calumniated, yet undeterred
taunted by the guns of  the oppressors
marooned in their prison 
confined to Abuja 
denied of dignity 
Yet  his passion soars with coruscation of brilliancy 


The  quest for freedom stems from the heart 
the cause for which he dared a tyrant
who sought a cause by a fraudulent jurist 
to make him bend or make him bow.
unlike the cowards he never stooped,
he stirred the oppressed from their slumber, 
and made some men by delayed revolution.


where are all the orators who came to bury Caesar by campaign? 
They snore in the bedroom unaffected by the groaning of the people  
some seeking publicity by suing twitter, 
others purloining at the tables of business felons.
In the struggle for emancipation, 
the boys are separated from the men. 



Dedicated to Omoyele Sowore 
The Nigerian Born Activist 
who stood alone when other younger candidates resigned to fate after the fraudulent election that imposed Buhari
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

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