Rising to the seat

I longed for that seat……… but

I wronged many with my feet……..and

I warmed any with my heat.

Thorns pricked my bare feet as I walked to ascend to that seat……and

Souls licked my bleeding feet to ignite my heat.

My path was rough……..and

My wrath would laugh as the lava from my heart exploded with great heat.



At the summit of the hill, I stand watching……

….the lame leap with joy……..

…. the maimed sing with hope…..

…the blind stare in awe…… and

….the rich scratch the backs of the poor as a melancholic melody of victory ascend to the hill.

A pool of tears stream down my cheeks as I look down the throng.



I vow to serve them all so that………

The poor could play the tune, the rich would dance to……..

The children could say a word, the elders would listen to…..and

The women could beat the drums, the men would rap to.



I vow to make…..

The Pride protect the flock……

The lions feed the calves….. as the

Parliament of owls compose songs masses would approve.



The sweat of masses, give me the sweet and the meat of the seat….

I wonder if at all am going to meet their need,

I realize am an egg the nation wants to milk from.



In the seat, I see the reality of authority, power and leadership toss me to and fro.



To those who witness my labors’’, in their hearts my name rests,

And to those who witness my brutality, in their hearts anger grows.



Drastically,

My glory is fading slowly

My fame is fading into shame…….

My importance is fading into impotence….

My justice is fading into injustice……….and

My dignity is stripped naked………..as people give me names.



They call me a hypocrite,

They call me a liar,

They call me a dictator,

They call me a corrupt leader.



The seat is becoming bitter

As the sweet and the meat of the seat chock my throat.

And oh my God! Am not well.

I feel my heart pricked,

My stomach is rumbling and

My head is pounding.



I sleep in pain as I hear shouts of anguish and concern from

Men and women, boys and girls as they ask those close to me.

“Where is our leader? Why are you hiding him! We want to see our beloved leader!” and

So they complain.

My heart is heavy as my country men and women are kept aloof the truth.

The seat hides me and

The seat conceals the truth…… my truth.

I open my eyes to have a glimpse of my land for the last time…………

My Goodness! This is not my land, where am i?

Only then do I realize that I have kicked the bucket.



Back in my land, the dark cloud hovers my country.

Men are wailing……..

Children are weeping…….. and

women are mourning………mourning their leader.



“here I am my people, why are you crying? Can’t you see me?

I am here in my seat looking at you all”.

Surprisingly, someone squeezes me in the seat. Is someone trying to get the seat from me?

Well, it’s my best friend. A brother from another mother of another race.



The seat is empty,

My friends are fighting for it,

My enemies are dancing in laughter,

They pretended to stand by me.

But look at them, they fight for my seat when am still holding to it.

When will you take me to my resting place?

I can’t stand this wickedness.

Take the seat and lead me to my rest.



People called me a hypocrite……… today, they call me an honourable leader,

People called me a liar…………….. today, they call me a truthful leader,

People called me a dictator………, today, they call me a good and visionary leader,

People called me a corrupt leader…….today, they call me a humble leader.

Is that true?



How come you see my honor when am dead,

When you only saw my hypocrisy when I was alive?

How come you see my truthfulness when am dead,

When you only saw my lies when I was alive?

How come you see my goodness when am dead,

When you only saw my dictatorship when I was alive?

How come you see my humbleness when am dead,

When you only saw my corruptibility when I was alive?



Are you trying to live by the saying…..”Never talk ill of the dead?”

Tell me my people…….

Who is a liar between you and I?

Tell me my people……..

Who is a hypocrite between you and I? And

Tell me my people……..

Who is corrupt between you and I?

You called me a criminal when I was alive and

You call me a saint when am dead.

Oooh my beloved people…..

To my resting place please lead me and sing no more songs of praise for things you never appreciated.

To sleep in this pit is relief, and

To sit in that seat is grief.