They came for our neighbors

Armed with grenades and

Slaughter knives

We said, "thank God it's there

And not here."

They burnt down schools,

And killed pupils in their sleep.

We were alarmed but grateful;

We said, "thank God it's there

And not here."

These vicious devils from Hades

Will not stop.

They even kidnapped young girls

And took turns to defile them.

Our eyes moist with tears, but

We said, "thank God it's there

And not here."

Just yesterday,

Our neighbors' wives were raped,

Their children made to watch.

This is most despicable!

We pitied our neighbors, but thanked

Our God for sparing us.

We said, "thank God it's there

And not here."

Determined to defend themselves,

They armed themselves with sticks

And stones.

A stick against a gun? Absurd!

Why can't they buy guns too?

That's what we would have done.

"We said, thank God it's there

And not here."

They seized their fields and cattles,

Our neighbors were dying of hunger.

But for this deadly enemy,

We would donate foods to our friends.

What If they came for us?

God forbid!

We said, "thank God it's there

And not here."

Today, they've come for us.

Our houses set ablaze,

Our husbands slaughtered

Our girls defiled, . . .

"O lord," we cried,

"Save us!"

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This poem is dedicated to those in northern Nigeria who are suffering and dying in the hands of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Sadly true.

Anytime a news starts with "Boko Haram have.." i just skip the news and tell myself "it's not happening here anyway"

This is heart-breaking and at the same time sending a message.