Chidi,
Birthdays are for giving thanks that the Almighty has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this season, even if the current feeling is a little bitter-sweet.
Your family and we too thank the Almighty that you are in our world.
Our task is to contribute to making this planet a better place to live in. So, we want to see more of you here – and in Nigeria too - before someone writes our Bertrand Russell type obituary, when we graduate from mother earth to the next stage of existence, hopefully at about 120 years of age, that the golden mountain no longer exists - although the 72 African virgins could be up there waiting for us as we will eventually find out before we pass into non-existence…
So cheer up even if you feel that you yourself cannot be happy until all the brothers and sisters are also happy.
Peace & Love,
Sincerely,
By Chidi Anthony Opara
Daybreak.
Dew-like drizzles
Dulling the bright demeanour
Of this budding August break day.
Drizzles,
Downpour.
Fore flavour of Ramadan feast.
"Today is the eighth day of August"
My mind murmured.
The dull demeanour of this August day
Peeped into my den,
I peeped.
A congregation of choristers
Converged,
Besieging my den door.
"Today is the eighth day of August in 2013 AD",
"Today marks your fiftieth year on earth",
"Today marks your golden jubilee on earth"
The choristers chorused.
"This jubilee is not golden"
My mind murmured.
I mused,
My mind meandered the maze of miseries.
Hordes of hapless citizens
Hamstrung by unholy homilies
Huddle in public places
Homeless,
Hungry,
Angry,
Hunted by self-anointed holy warriors,
Hunted by militants of all manners.
My mind moved to Biafra,
To other vanquished lands.
My mind gazed at the genocide.
This jubilee
Indeed is not golden
My mouth murmured.
(This poem is in commemoration of the author's fiftieth birthday anniversary. All Rights Reserved).
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