When I die
In Zaria-Delta-Agatu
Akure-Oyo-Edo-Taraba
Chibok-Buni Yadi-Baga
Jos-Nassarawa-Enugu
Do not bury me there
beneath the red Earth
Where the scent of fear,
despair and lost hope flirt
Biko nu burn my body
as a peace offering on leaves;
for Afonja and his 80 thieves
feed the marrows of my bones
to our nation’s gathered assembly
of corrupt charlatans and clones
Sprinkle my ashes to cleanse
defiled rivers of my hometown
pour out my blood with incense
to quench the thirst of they who
wear the ruling crown
Offer my heart to the huntsmen
and the herdsmen
in a fair exchange;
-so that the bloody trails of tears
be transformed back into laughter
-that the blood of my children
may cease to spill
-that this ravaged heart hears
songs of peace and may finally heal
when I die
do not trap me
beneath Lugard’s land of lie
Set me free
to roam my homeland’s coasts
one of many, many lost ghosts…
(C) Juliet ‘Kego Ume-Onyido
