EMMANUEL OJEIKHODION
Red
the land widens into a pool of red
& the aftermath of its desecration is
the pyre of cadavers mounting
the bed of the soil
nothing pierces the soul more than the music of grief undulating in every region
here, what pervades the day surpasses the terror at night
this means the road is merciful when
your legs bring you back alive, this
means the scent of your blood is a mile
away from the thirst of the
strong man’s pistol
what news has blessed us lately except the land in its constant spill of blood?
the Corn-Seller by the roadside
rummages the road for her son long
slain by a Fulani herdsman
a room of wailing mothers spread their sorrows for Bàmisé, murdered by
unknown men
where I come from is a land burning the face of the dead, each one of them
kneeling at the calvary of the undead,
restless, for what seemed to be a short-lived
moment
forgive me when I say I pull the name of
my homeland off like a curse & begin
to nurse my faith in anything that’d come
in form of wings
I’ve seen enough Red in this land & desire
an end to the war
dear home, bless us this day the warmth
of a paradise, we’re tired of running
to a land empty of gloom
Emmanuel Ojeikhodion is a Nigerian Poet and Writer whose works encompass the human condition and complexities of life. He writes reviews for movies and music aside poetry and a former Assistant Poetry Editor at Typehouse Magazine and a Peer Reviewer for Whale Road Review. He’s a Cynophilist and a voracious Bread eater. He has been published in numerous journals and is open for a chat on Twitter @hermynuel and Instagram @itz_wordsworth.