Remembrance
by Ololade Edun
Ogun, Nigeria
may the universe never forget our fallen heroes,
those who d...i...e...d in battles,
from slouching guns cannons bombers,
maybe grenades;
him. her. they. & them.
those whose last words were "peace & unity" before
b.....u.....l.....l.....e.....t.....s
of betrayal from a place they call home
tore them apart on the dusk of 20.10.20.
see, uniforms are always different,
yours — hues of camouflage blended with green,
some wear white. others, on seas, blue.
but mine is the colour of a flag stained with blood:
deceit green. mourner's white. & specks of crimson red
of them mangled like sitting ducks on a toll gate,
their hands stretched forth to heavens
that i may collect their grief from my lover’s mouth & wear it on my tongue today.
i ask máàmì "what is a soldier?"
she says:
"a soldier is a thing. a person
maybe a fearless being. son, you may even call them gods
they are ready to keep their grounds
on days the gun whispered to its bullets
go into the world & wreak peace
& cause pain & bring me souls of rebels."
For Nigeria's (un)Armed Force Remembrance Day. 15/01/2021.
PS: [borrows & alters the phrase "go into the world & be the storm" from JK Anowe's Etc.]
* Máàmì - mother
Ololade Edun
Ololade Edun is a contemporary creative, a microbiologist, and a medical student. He writes experimental things with interests in medicine, literature, sciences, and leadership.
Header Image by KTMD ENTERTAINMENT