WHEN WE BUILD AGAIN

Years ago our ancestors came together
Before the eclipse turned our day into night
Built a small house, but big enough for all
Roof, like a bird with wings, tilted skyward
They sang of freedom for our families
Eagles flew across, never seen by men
We gazed upward and saw the falcons’ eyes

Slabs and shingle were conveyed to the site
From the quarry, throughout the winding creeks
To the plot bought on Jones’ Avenue
With seasoned artisans and experts at work
We had hopes, high, as tall as Iroko
A module of hob and spoke adopted
With Abuja as fused core city centre

The builders assembled for ground-breaking
The chief workman changed the original plan
Infected the timbers and calibers
Sham took a shovel, mixed cement with soap
When they labored hard to lintel level
The very foundation weakened from start
This house has fallen from the other end

With the base pillar of truth compromised
Not as laid in planned pyramid of ideals
Laid down to root out rotten elements
Like falsehood, greed and insincerity
State house is on the brink of caving in
Fear tiptoes around in the minds of men
On what will happen, when we build again…