Who Shall Sail Our Ship?

(Corruption/Abuse of Power and Privilege)

I.

When we left the habour, we were jubilant

Alas, we did set course for the promised land
Our sails fully hoisted to the boisterous glory of the winds.
The strange land, upon which we were marooned, receded behind us
On the waters ahead, we set our gaze.
On the freedom ahead, we had fixed our hope.
We sailed through the tempest, until it seemed fiercest
Suddenly, we awoke amidst an uproar, struggling to find our feet
Wailings rent the air. Confusion drowned the peace we knew
What has become of our sweet voyage?

II. 
Shocked had we been to know our ship had been besieged;
Besieged from within. Besieged by her own sailors.
They say “The captain has no clue. We shall lead the crew”
The sailor now captains but is soon de-captained by another ambitious sailor.
So, we roamed the seas for years on end, tossed by every wave
“No more!” we said. “No more. We shall s-elect our Captain!”
But our choice soon turned a mistake; same as his predecessors and successors;
Common goals are sacrificed on the sacred altar of bigotry
Now for want of worthy choices, our mandates have tired
And circling the seas on a ship without a course surely drains us of hope.

Elijah C. Ugoh
Lagos, Nigeria
+2348180058980
ugohelijah@gmail.com