Biafra: Survival and Vindication
Christian Ukachukwu
Friday, May 30, 2008
Do you see her,
do you see Biafra?
sitting pretty like a maiden
wearing the sun's smile as a crown
instead of the oft expected frown
There she goes wearing
the herald of a new day
as she first did on that glorious May day
the rays of the rising sun her halo,
her ribbon the colors of Black Resistance.
Yesterday's sun was
rained out
But today has brought a new sun
more reflective, yet more resolute
undaunted by that inclement weather
The spin doctors and
tattlers have had their night
of tattle tales, half truths and slight fright
but that's only half the story
The other half - the whole truth
is a story for another day, another place
The Ogoni has cried
blood for Kenule
the lips tremble to tell in the swirling dust
what the Odi eyes saw one certain dusk
Even among the dwellers on the edge of the sunset
owambe sweat mingle with tears on soiled hanky
but shiny faces and toothy grins greet the naked eye.
The truth of Biafra is
going round
rising with each sun to make the trek
stealthily draping the land with naked truth
seeping like methylated spirit into the landscape
nudging the smoky clouds into corners
shaming the folklorist with undisputed truth
Her survival scares her
vicious violators
and her resilience shames the vandals
Even her unborn children arrive fists clenched
to punch the air with chants of "Hail Biafra!"
Violated, victimized
but "not vanquished"
rather than a victim, impregnable she prevails,
mapping a path for Tutsis, Darfurians and other
victims of the same serpent-hearted jackals.
With fists raised in a
Black Salute
I kiss your defiant callused bloody unsteady feet
finding its rhythm to the Enyimba victory stomp
Happy survival, sweet Biafra!
©Christian Ukachukwu, May 30, 2008
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