POETRY: TECHNICALITIES AND CASUALTIES

TECHNICALITIES AND CASUALTIES
(Bleeding Voices from the Abattoir of Melete)

By Yusuff Uthman Adekola

i
Ah! *Èèmọ̀!
*Èèmọ̀ rèé!

The apparition of truth was the words on our tongue.
Technical reality was the news suffocating the media.

Basking in rickety victory, we sang the mantra of our waiting death,
But we never knew we were verging on a tight path of virgin loss.

“Technically defeated!” “Technically defeated!” “Technically defeated!”
So did the government’s trumpet blow like the Boko bombs.

Now, we technically die. Now, we technically die like swatted flies.
The truth is born again. The truth is naked like a newly-born.

i
Ah! Èèmọ̀!
Èèmọ̀ rèé!

This path to heaven is a slippery valley of exploding rocks
Where hands go numb as we are wrapped in flames of final respect.

No one should weep merely for the passage of our escaping souls,
But rather wail for this land where terror blooms in technical defeat.

Though we have become onions causing tears for relatives and family,
Remember, gallantry was the name of our moves on the battlefield.

Technically, Bala’s feet are gone. Technically, Chukwu’s arms are gunned.
Technically, the commander is commanded to march out of breath.

iii
Ah! Èèmọ̀!
*Èèmọ̀ luputupẹ́bẹ́!

May we not technically vanish!
May this land not fade into darkness!

GLOSSARY:
Èèmọ̀: Problem
Èèmọ̀ rèé: This is problem
Èèmọ̀ luputupẹ́bẹ́: Huge problem