Refugee Camps

Refugee Camps

By George Amadi

Independence not on a platter

Of gold served up,

A relieved world,

With mixed feelings,

A long-suffering

People’s liberty

Applauded

But violent rivalry

Among greedy politicians

In the nascent nation

Erupting feared.

Heated verbal exchanges over

Black gold sales’ control

By the day

Intensifying,

Economic growth

By poor governance

Several years

Down the line

Imperiled, fears

Of pessimists justified.

From their war-ensnared country,

Distraught citizens,

More than one million

Of them on the run

In refugee camps abroad,

By hunger, squalor

Ravaged, one hell

For another exchanged.

Health concerns mounting,

Stagnant, slimy-green ponds,

From which

An offensive odour

Emanates

Mushrooming,

All that distressed mothers,

Malnourished children

Of theirs, as well,

Can do,

Is to wait

For the rains

To go away,

Howling guns to

Fall silent.

Lagos, August 15, 2014