Sunday 3 October 2021

Lovesong for my Wasteland, Sequence XXX by Remi Raji

Trapped, double-trapped, triple-trapped 
I feel the outlaw's pain 
I know the anguish of exile 
I feel the decimal of failure in the hearts of men. 
So I know. I know 
Why my sisters hang onto the certainty of damnation 
I know why everywhere my brothers turn 
They expect the handshakes of humiliation 
And I know why they don't trust even their shadows in motion. 
We've once been trapped like mice in the vice of death.

Trapped, double-trapped, triple-trapped...


Remi Raji


Remi Raji is a Nigerian poet, scholar, literary organiser and cultural activist. Raji’s first collection of poems – A Harvest of Laughters (1997) – has won national and international recognition. 

-
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

The Celebrants, a poem by Ken Saro-Wiwa

The Celebrants They are met once again To beat drums of confusion Tattooes of mediocrity They are met once again The new cow to lead To the ...

  • Homeless, Not Hopeless by Sola Owonibi
    Homeless, Not Hopeless We are the native of the street Holed-up under bridges We are necessary We are part of your existence Major fragm...
  • Ibadan by J. P. Clark
    Ibadan Ibadan, running splash of rust and gold-flung and scattered among seven hills like broken china in the sun. J. P. Clark John P...
  • Young Africa's Plea by Dennis Osadebay
    Young Africa's Plea Don’t preserve my customs As some fine curious To suit some white historian’s tastes. There’s nothing artificial...