BIAFRA (SONNETS ON POST COLONIAL AFRICA'S FIRST GENOCIDE) XXXIX

-
"NIGERIA'S terrible bargain with the abyss is writ large on the TABLETS OF FATE: AGUIYI-IRONSI. The debt each BIAFRAN would pay IRONSI paid twice, thrice over. Stand at the prow of this boat and speak , name IRONSIDE, he that was whipped until the white bones of his ribs showed. Name him in a voice as clear as a bell." "IRONSI stalwart warrior. As stoic as stoic is: not tears but grim days Baba.  Grim as only grim can be. And a warning to BIAFRA'S mothers: savaged and assaulted once your son challenges for power. Bloated dead bodies piled highon wagons - gifts of the north to BIAFRA'S mothers. Take on power only if you march to your death unafraid - or never return from the battlefield.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AFRICA'S FIRST GENOCIDE) XIX

-
Image
 "NIGERIA'S flag is as a flame blazing forth not for NIGERIA or BIAFRA only. NIGERIA'S flag is as that flame blazing forth for them that are of BRAZIL, MARTINIQUE, AMERICA, THE ISLANDS, HAITI, CUBA - all lands where NIGERIA'S sons and daughters sorrowed in chains. NIGERIA'S flag is the meaning of the lives of other nations chained - like those of MAURITANIA, QATAR. Thus to talk secession, as my BIAFRA has done: know the price BIAFRA has asked them to pay - not for the future only, but for a terrible past of slavery and chains. So child: do I stand by BIAFRA? I stand with BIAFRA in this accursed venture and will mourn each son, daughter." "That's all that the dead dare ask," says CASSANDRA.
Read more

BIAFRA (SONNETS ON POST-COLONIAL AFRICA'S FIRST GENOCIDE) LXIV

-
Image
“BIAFRA must write for EARTH’S bleak mother to read all her dead lest they hungrily multiply,” MERLIN says “she ever mourns her sun. Will to a TEXAS jail or flood NEW ORLEANS, or blight HAITI, or BIAFRA or forever ride beautiful ghost ship IMMAMOU of the SEVEN SEAS – seeking her son. The deaths: all hers.” EZZI-NNE confesses: “I know the HAG. Remiss of me that BIFRA’S dead children suffer the blue HAG’s rage.” “That is ugly-beautiful BABA-YAGA of the nose torn at her difficult birthing of her son,” avers UKRAINKA. “The HAG of the slave ship IMMAMOU – these deaths, plagues and hurricanes are hers,” marvels BIAFRA.   “CERTAIN,” says MERLIN, “of five centuries: seeking a son. Supplicate her.”
Read more

BIAFRA (SONNETS ON POST-COLONIAL AFRICA'S FIRST GENOCIDE) LXVII

-
Image
“BIAFRA makes the warrior-poet her OLLAVE   and he will know what to make of the HAG whose feared slave ship IMMAMOU rides the ATLANTIC with but one passenger. That mortals loaded her son with chains and sold him, a slave, to the NEW WORLD makes the SCALD-CROW’S rage burn against NIGERIA – but against BIAFRA hers is the implacable IRE of a displeased immortal,” says MERLIN. “MERLIN makes a wish of BIAFRA.” “Speak of it sage, BIAFRA owes you a debt beyond all price.” “Appease the SCALD-CROW: but look to the children that died in BIAFRA’S genocide-by-famine. Forget not the children -   th’ reason that BIAFRA to these ISLES.” “BIAFRA forgot them once, never twice.” “Farewell.” “Fare thee well.”                     
Read more