by Cynthia Echeme

Created on: August 14, 2009

Who the hell are these?

Sentiment-whipping sights on our dirt roads?

With hairs completely unkempt?

With plaits and braids over-stayed!

Now with mid scalp, sadly balding and receding?

From daily, excess stock on their poor heads?

With malnourished sunken eyes iris-yellow turned!

Barely blinking from daily sun-beaten faces like charcoal

Wickedly whipped unsparingly by alien acnes and pimples!

With heavily-stocked trays inducing their dragging gaits!

Their now-tattered and sun-worn clothing crying from too many mending stitches!

What with their miserable and over-indulged slippers weeping for a change!

These pitiful and hunger-stricken hounds!

Their faces reluctant hosts to hopelessness

Singing some strange National Anthem!

The child hawks!; The child hawks!

Are these our Generation-Next?

Are these our Future generation, so-called?

Creme de la crme acclaimed?

My Ahamefuna; Your Ikemefuna!

Our future strength; Our Ikenga!

This soil. Far from child-friendly!

Learn more about this author, Cynthia Echeme.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.