Abuja by Tanure Ojaide

Here where all cardinal points meet in a capital

Here where rocks raise homes to the sky

Here where the savannah rolls over the soil

the coven where witches plot the demise of others

this is where chiefs celebrate on the sweat of slaves

this is where range chickens consume and scatter leftovers

this is where the hyena's den is guarded by rings of packs

and swallowed it, leaving no scent for a trace

this is where the boa-constrictor strangles its catch

this is where robbers boast of their callous acts

and laugh at the plight of a hundred million cowards

this is where the national flag covers a cesspool

this is where a god led his worshippers to die

this is where I weep for my entire land

Tanure Ojaide

Tanure Ojaide (born 1948) is a prolific Nigerian poet and writer. He is noted for his unique stylistic vision and for his intense criticism of imperialism, religion,and other issues. He is the author of six books of poetrty, including Labyrinths of the Delta , The Blood of Peace and The Daydream of Ants . He is two-time winner of both the All-Africa Okigbo Prizefor Poetry and the Association of Nigerian Authors' Poetry Prize. A memoir, Great Boys: An African Childhood , was recently published.