LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
It's a long walk to freedom
I must keep on going no backward glance
I only pause to bring back those who had no help over the blow freedom dealt
Though my legs wobble under the weight of persistence
Though my legs wobble under the weight of persistence
I remember the fetters, the shackles of yesterday
Thoughts of the yesteryears push me on to the future
For back there I no longer belong
It's a long walk to freedom
Those who started out with me are no more
Agboola walked beside me
All calm and hopeful, taking everything in his stride
I look beside me again and he is no more
Perhaps to him, laying down to freedom was better than standing to shake its hands.
Ebuka trode silently with a select few
As though he knew his walk was short
Offering his hand, I reach out
Grasping nothing but air.
The day he stopped his walk
Those who didn't see him stride
Noticed his absence.
Perhaps life gave him a short cut to freedom.
Ezenagu wanted nothing but greatness
To be the head and have nothing rule him;
On this road we walked,
He was always first
His head towering above all walkers
Often I would look up for him
To know how far I still had to go
Hard walk led me beside him
Triumphantly I turn to look him in the eye
But him I see no longer
Perhaps to him also, laying down to freedom was better than standing to shake its hand.
It's a long walk to freedom
We started out in the morning
Now the scorching afternoon sun
Leave some weary and sitting by the road side
Hoping for Iya Bodija's akara by the evening.
I should stop, sit and wait with them
But the changing times leaves me discouraged
I may not have my round before it grows cold.
It's a long walk to freedom
But walk on I must
A great distance I have covered
I cannot put to waste now.
I walk on
To tell tales about those who walked with me but walk no more
About those who forsook the struggle
For a minute's savouring.
Hope urges me on
As I know I must teach
That even though the journey be tough
It is one we all must strive to make.
*Agboola- Olumide Agboola. A fellow member of Platoon6. We lost him to Jaundice. NYSC.
*Ezenagu- Chinelo Ezenagu. A female. Strong willed. My classmate in Junior Secondary. She would cry whenever she came second. She wanted to be first always. One day she slept and never woke up.
*Ebuka- Eze Ebuka Donatus. My course mate in the University. Introverted. He died on Love's day (February 14).
*Iya Bodija- A bean-cake seller I patronize almost every evening.
