THE FATE OF MAN
This bone was once in luxury,
Living and leaving in mansions,
Traveling from here to there,
Driving exotic cars, with tinted glasses.
After acquiring all degrees
With proofs of certifications,
After extorting the people
With truthful lies in business.
After intimidating faces
With ill-gotten wealth,
With the facial expression of arrogance,
It will still end in the grave.
After the millions, billions and trillions,
Whether naira, dollars or pounds,
Empty handed will a man return,
To face eternal judgment.
After the hustling and bustling
Under the scorching sun,
But in the mocking rain,
Man must sleep in a grave forever.
One by one, we shall all return
To account for our deeds in flesh,
Yahweh will pay everyone
According to one’s thoughts, words and actions.
MEN IN KHAKI
Men in uniform,
Have sold their lives,
For the safety of the society,
To watch every man’s back.
Daily, some risk their lives
in Sambisa forest,
Some on highways,
To safeguard travellers.
Men in khaki,
Live in trousers and skirts,
They are family members,
But detached from society.
They move here and there with rifles,
To safeguard lives and properties,
Though sometimes tools in the hands
Of political gladiators.
Society without men in khaki,
Will rejoice in anarchy,
Many homes will be doomed,
Chaos will roam the streets.
Khaki men are hard,
Not by nature, but by nurture,
This hardness keeps them soft,
To carry out their duties.
When duty calls,
They answer without excuses,
They surrender their lives,
For the society to thrive to succeed.
When they die in active service,
Their bodies are raised shoulder high,
While their families rejoice in bereavement,
Death, the road of all mortals.
REST IN PEACE
A legend goes home
at ninety five,
To rest in peace or piece,
Away from troubles of life.
He was a voice that echoes
far away from home,
The Igbo folkloric voice,
Whose music trended like wildfire.
His song “gwo gwo ngwo”,
A remix, caused a revolution,
Calling the young and old,
To reunite and fight
their enemies of tomorrow.
Though a gifted guitarist,
His magic fingers has paid his dues,
A legend figure of two generations,
A custodian of Igbo oral science.
Today, he has gone home,
Away from earthly palava,
His kiths and kin will feast;
they will rejoice in painful laughter,
Rest in peace, Chief Mike Ejeagha.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE POET
Muoneke, Jude Chukwuemeka hails from Ideato North local government in Imo state, Nigeria. He studied English and Literary Studies at Federal University Wukari, Taraba State. He also obtained his Masters degree at Federal University Wukari. He majored in English (Literature), specializing in creative writing and poetry.
