There’s hunger in the land
We can see her footprints
Printed on our emaciated chests
Like ugly railway lines
Solids have departed from our sights,
Gone with the policy of failed economy
We’re left with plates of consolations
And the sips of our arid saliva
There’s hunger in the land,
She sits upon our frail and languid skin
And builds her castle in our empty bellies
We couldn’t run! We couldn’t sleep!
We wish to run and betray borders
But only fortitude to lie remains in us
We wish to die and embrace earth’s bed,
But we cannot afford to buy poison
We’re as light as fallen leaves;
Slaves to mere passing winds
Those we see as hope at the top
Are dicing with our future
Sitting up there, heartless
Sharing proceeds among cronies
But forward alibis to us as palliatives
Till they come again for our thumbs
Written by: James T. Abel Adesitimi (also known as Taiwo Adesitimi)
RIVERS OF WORDS 