A POEM READ BY THEOPHILUS UMORU AT LOUDTHOTZ OPEN POETRY READING MAY, 2011

WHILE WE AWAIT

I do not yet see the perfection I crave

But I see a child

Immature

Naïve

Yet full of potential

I see all around nations and continents

Established in military might

In economic strength

In political focus

In clear cut ideology

And yet

I refuse to be blind

To the giant waiting to emerge

The voyage may be long

But land lies ahead

And so

While we await that day

When the nation

Shall no longer be ruled by greed

When the nation

Shall no longer be captive

To cowardly callousness

That day

When the nation

Shall be led by the gallant

By the upright

By the wise

By the just

By the noble

By the very dreams of the righteous

While we await that day

When the voice of the nation shall be heard

In Europe

In America

In Asia

In all of Oceana

And in mother Africa

Not in pleas

Not in petitions

But in a proud declaration

In a glorious assertion

Of the power and might of this great land

When immigration and not emigration

Will become the challenge

While we await that day

When our votes

Will not only be counted

But when our votes will count

While we await that day

When the words

“Nigeria my beloved country”

Will once again

Ring true on our lips

While we await that great day of glory

Keep the flag flying

For one day

That day will come

For you and for me.

Theophilus Umoru