What you remember when you crave for justice

(After Janet Kali)

We sing the songs filled with sadness,
Songs with lyrics written in silence
Because in our country
When you see the stains of blood on your wall,
Or you hear the sounds of blasts and gunshot,
You do not react
You do not fan the flame of fury
You do not spark the fire of revolution
You remember the fate of the commoners,
The plight of the innocents languishing behind bars
You remember the storm of protest,
And men kept in the police custody.
You remember
Hearts creak in silence
You remember
Words spoken in pretense
You do not plot a coup
You do not fight against the government
Nor dare blaspheme the political gods.

Ogedengbe Tolulope Impact is a Nigerian poet. He is a chemical engineering graduate from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife His poem “Tell them” was a shortlisted poem at the 7th Korea-Nigeria poetry feast, 2017. His works have been published in Duane Poetree,  Pangolin review, Words Rhymes & Rhythms, Literary planet, Wax poetry and art magazine, Parousia Magazine, Subsaharan magazine, pangolin review, and various anthologies including the Brigitte Poirson poetry contest, 2018 (Citadels of words). He tweets @fruitfulimpact where he spreads himself into a song.