May, 2002
for the first time in a decade
Sierra Leone slept
without fear.
The night was strange
almost unfamiliar.
Silence returned
like a forgotten friend.
No cities burning
No parents running
No children crying
for names lost in smoke.
Just deep stillness
so pure and sacred
even the stars
seemed to fall asleep.
No one knew that ’91 would come
that it was our turn
to taste the bitter pot
passed from our near neighbours.
Five years before
Dad had found Mom
young, laughing, full of tomorrow
their dreams wrapped in silence.
A year later, I arrived
just four years before the fire
the one that swallowed a nation
and first rose blazing in the east.
You see, I was born
between the silence of ’87
when Sierra Leone knew no gun
and the fire of ’91.
Everyone was in joyous mood
Sails smiling full
Rocking the giant sea
Believing freedom was near.
Then a rudder broke
One sailor’s knot gave way
The sails tore
Unable to hold against the cracks.
The ship plunged.
The Captain sat satisfied
In his cabin
Blind to the looming danger.
Alas! What can we do?
One sailor cried
“We are sinking!
Fetch the Captain!”
When dark shadows of war fell
And cries of anguish rang like bells
Streets stained, the skies of Sierra Leone torn
The hope of this nation was lost and gone.
Through those dark clouds, a light arose
A force for peace, worries deposed
ECOMOG came with a mission crystal as clear
To drive away the reign of fear.
Through jungle paths and smelly streets
They battled on, defying defeat
With every step and with every stand
They stitched together a broken land
This is the power of unity, you see—
An African brother lifting another free.
One finger alone can't lift a stone;
It takes a union to build a home.
Kush is both a lover and a monster
Capturing the hearts of our youth.
Its eyes, as deep as the night and bright as stars
Hold secrets of passion and unspoken truths.
With a touch that sends shivers down the spine
It suffocates the soul into delirium.
Its voice, a haunting melody
Whispers promises and fears alike—a lullaby of sweet agony.
Draped in a velvet cloak of desire
It prowls the landscapes of dreams
Leaving traces of warmth and damage
And claw marks of yearning on Sierra Leonean youth.
This creature, born from the wild storms of the heart
Is a keeper of boundless affection
A distributor of heartache
A beast of love that devours our youth.
O Sierra Loa, the mountain of lions
A land of thy free, O native land.
A symbol of God's majestic hand
A nation so small yet peaceful and grand.
Beneath your ever clear sky
Merry mountains and gay valleys lie.
Home to air that touches hearts far and wide.
For you my song and hymns will always bide.
Your rivers, your vast and wide seas
As blue as the eyes of lion mountains
Flow like the taps of royal fountains.
The beauty of you my eyes will always see.
Oh native land, my home, my heart
In you I found the courage since the very start
To wave through the storms of our gloomy past.
The love in you, o native land, all my worries I cast.
We harboured a dream
Believing freedom would bring us joy
We sought to liberate ourselves
From the shackles of colonial reign
Freedom arrived, vast and unrestrained
To our prayers God answered
"So help me God, so help me God,"
He endowed us with the spirit to persevere.
He fortified us to navigate
Through civil strife and turmoil
We triumphed over Ebola, COVID we defeated
Yet, why do we lament over Kush?
Where did we go wrong?
How did we evolve into a fractured nation
Polarized in beliefs and thoughts—
What happened to the melody of our anthem?
Where is the love we pledge?
Do we still serve her faithfully?
Oh my Sierra Leone!
The only land that I own,
I pledge to thee, to bring peace, love, development and unity,
Sadly I act for my interest without any loyalty.
I betray each and every promise to thee I made,
Skinning thy people whom I opted to aid.
I know even though you are independent, but thou dependth on me,
To lead thee to freedom, unity and prosperity.
Each and every day my act caused thee to bleed
I feed thee with hunger, nurture in thee my very corrupt seed.
Shamelessly I speak of my love for thee,
When thine legs I cut, thine eyes blind so thou cannot see.
Even though I pledged to serve thee at all time,
I made thee my servant, serving me at thine prime
I put my interest above yours,
Betraying thy love and trust.
having a plot
not more than
a large pot
growing
was a nurtured
planted by
nature
wind
blown
seed that
grew into
a dandelion
never mind
for those that
think it's just
a weed
it was never
mine from
the start
so no
need to
feel or fill
or fulfill any
care or beware
of its
dying but
when its yellow
flower turned to
a puffy
dome of
white seeds
i felt threatened
by
the
wind
and even
a
sneeze so
that no one would
blow it up and away
i placed
atop it a
laboratory
bell jar but
then
thought
and gasped perhaps
the insane happiness
of
dear
Sylvia
Plath
Prince Leone (www.facebook.com/princeleonemusic)
The man of God who stands for hurt women
who were despised by men,
his heart is to see them healed
of those which had been nailed.
Night and day hurt lives pass his way
divine words is that which he has to say,
healing flows through the source
of the power of God's love force.
World will know him by his song
which he sings for all those who suffered so long,
suicidal thoughts comes to an end
when he ministers at the edge of each bend
fear looses it's hold
when he pours God's love unfold.
by Esther J
Sierra Leone
Imagine being a kid
Running for your life
Behind you explodes a bomb
Feet splash in mud,
Diamonds hidden in your teeth
Rightfully yours
This is your home
Everything about this equation is wrong
De Beers
Imagine troops pushing maids carts
Full of Diamonds in a glass case
Your five senses breathe money
Messed up childhood, it's the only love you embrace
All the goats you cut to stash pouches in
It's the bully, the devil coming out from within
The underground tunnels,
The lies you funnel
Paperwork? Straighten collar
Hu Hum, That doesn't exist, grin,
When I walk through the mall
I see jewelers and their prestigious counters
I mind goes to all the kids torn from their parents
Forced into drugs to stay alive
How can anyone be ok with this?
Blood Diamonds will live forever
Too many chose ignorance.
Talking to them about it
All they've got is a blank stare
South province where Mattru jong is located!
Intriguing issues as a young boy!
Escaped from drugs and the war!
Rebels – They don’t agree with the government and think everyone is the enemy!
Ready to start over!
A lhaji close friend of Ishmael!
Lonely waking around by himself at the age of 12!
Evaluated but never understood!
One world with terrible memories!
Never being able to let go of memories!
Elated at being with his uncle!
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