TEARS FROM MAIDUGURI
Maiduguri
Capital city of the ancient Kanuri empire
A big elephant in the desert
A million happy children on its back and trunk.

You were a city of innocence
Where inhabitants dwelled in the farm of peace
And cultivated plenty fruits
Of unity, love and joy
You were a bubbling city
Full of promise and attraction
Your weather may not be friendly
But your smile was full of tranquility.

You spoke the language of commerce
With unhindered fluency and simplicity
Like a big mango tree
You provided both shelter and fruits
To all who sat under you
You were a magnanimous host
Who received guests
From home and abroad
And made them felt at home.

You were like a beautiful bride
Who stole the hearts of many suitors
That kept knocking on your door
In quest for your love
Which you gave in abundance
To the envy of some neighbors.

But Maiduguri. Oh. Maiduguri!
Like a bolt from the blues
Your enemies threw spanners in your works
And you lost your innocence at once
Your children are now on the cliff's edge
Their farms, shops and books mortgaged
In exchange for guns, grenades and propellers
The melodious song of love has ended
The terrible tunes of war are very loud.

The virus of war has entered the city of commerce
Turning it on its head
There is pain with tears in every household
Leaving in its trail
Blood, blood and fire
Men have become beasts
Hacking down brothers and sisters
In a ruthless show of strength, faith and courage?
As the streete experience ceaseless bloodbath.

Oh Maiduguri!
Look now at your body
Your highly artistic shape
Your wonderful architectural master pieces
The many thousand heavy duty trucks
Have all melted in the fire of war
Between your children and against your children
The powerful vehicle which drove your economy
Has crashed very badly
Men, women and children
Everyone in tears and blood.

And now!
The commander has commanded
His order must be obeyed before complaint
Soldiers in full military regalia
Hungry for war unfought for ages
Equipped with super guns, propellers and war planes
Penetrated the womb of Maiduguri
Through the towns and villages
Combing the deserts and hills
Sniffing in search of enemies within
The sounds of gun shots take the air
Communication killed alive
Mothers and daughters
Fathers and sons can not transmit their love or pains
Hospitals everywhere but no savior for the wounded
The desert moved closer with no water to drink
Hunger celebrated as it killed many
With no food to fight it
The few who still have their homes
Have continued to serve the dusk to dawn jail term
The sweet fragrance of love and romance
Which greeted my nostrils
On my last visit before this
Has given way to the foul odour
Of blood and fire
You are now a shadow of your past splendor .

In Maiduguri
Every moment announces the arrival of another death
In a high whistle
Which descends like a spear
Through the chaos
And explodes in a vast noise and motion
Which smashes everything......
Men, women, children, buildings.
Maiduguri
Your streets flood with blood
Your atmosphere is ruled by fear and uncertainty
I wish something will just happen
Today
Now
This moment
To pull the chestnut
Out of this raging inferno.
Oh, Maiduguri!

I thought they blocked all mobile phone access in that zone...How are you still able to access the internet?

JTF please arrest this man now.

Let him sing his songs in the guardroom

jackbauersballs: I thought they blocked all mobile phone access in that zone...How are you still able to access the internet?

JTF please arrest this man now.

Let him sing his songs in the guardroom

ani ode buruku ni e

jackbauersballs: I thought they blocked all mobile phone access in that zone...How are you still able to access the internet?

JTF please arrest this man now.

Let him sing his songs in the guardroom

ani ode buruku ni e

@ tjfulloption. You mean you actually composed this poem? Wow this really brilliant.Thumbs up!
If only these kanuri people will read this piece and reflect back on how maiduguri used to be, I think they will be sober at the recent developments in Maiduguri.
Is high time they fishout all the bad eggs among them and embrace peace so that ancient city can go back to how it use to be.

Though it might take ages to rebuild, but it is possible.
God bless Maiduguri,
God Bless Nigeria!!

tjfulloption:

ani ode buruku ni e

ani ode buruku ni e

Dude relax...it was only a joke na?

Great poem!

I wonder why there were no poems when innocent Corps Members of NYSC were being decimated. I wonder why there were no poems when Churches & Mosques were being bombed and burnt. I wonder why there were no poems when people were being riddled with bullets and hacked with machetes.

I would love to read another poem.

VERY BEAUTIFUL POEM. GOD SAVE MAIDUGURI!