We played in the waters, and danced in the nude

I

We swam your rivers and drank your waters
We slept on your bossom and sucked thy breasts
We dreamt of tomorrow and hoped for the best
We played in the waters, and danced in the nude.
We were young, and we were innocent.

There was no fear even in the thick of midnight
There was no shame, boys and girls we bathe together
There was no lust, and we were not lost
There was hope and it looked forever.
But there was 'them' the evil class.

The leeches they suck us dry
And dare us to ask them why
When we do they laugh at us
But their children will be slaves
And they know not.

II

They fill thier barns with plenty
Stolen waters from our nation's cistern
They defile our virgins with money
And not one pang of conscience or pain
The nation groan, they grow
Yet they believe they are great.

Many die in the clinics that are graves
Hunger plague another million
Disease writes epitaph on the tomb of many
They barter in mockery and trade in treachery
Yet the price of 'fuel' sways the waves.

III

We swam your rivers and drank your waters
We slept on your bossom and sucked thy breasts
We dreamt of tomorrow and hoped for the best
We played in the waters, and danced in the nude.
We were young, and we were innocent.

Now there is fear even in the heart of morning
There is shame, boys and girls no more bathe in innocence
The altars of lust have many disciples
And the shrine of despair many worshippers
But they will not hear the people's cry.

They trade in hunger and prosper in cruelty
They scatter hatred and triumph
When thier people beg
The mark of their greatness
Is that the poor never find soccour
But they are not God.

Dele-Israel Ikeorha
Kaduna, Nigeria October 19, 2005