#ThinkOutLoud: WE THE “OTHERS”- Osowe Oluwagbenga @gbengaosowe
“In honour the many OTHERS who died in company of dignitaries”
Cries of joy heralded our arrivals
By our births, allegiance with barrenness got denounced,
Cows, fowls, goats and rams were led to the slaughter
Parents rejoiced at the coming of their sons and daughters
You can now call us mothers and fathers they proudly announced
We have brought forth children who would guarantee our family survival
Oh the joy of our parents to see us blossom
Like little children they giggled as we took our first steps
Tiny as we were they sent us to school
To learn of the ways that lead to fame
The teacher’s cane was a willing tool
Administered to keep from the ways of shame
Oh, I hear about the Prime Minister’s mother?
The tales of war, declared on her abductors
The loud-mouthed governor roared like a Jack Bauer
“Give us 24 hours” he said, we’d surely find her
How I wish same was said of the countless others
The numerous others found dead, maimed, dismembered.
Being in the governor’s employ was no mean feat
Pleas, lobbying and bribes played their part
A place in His Excellency’s palace and you’re made
Access to the good things of life surely guaranteed
Countless trips to serve the governor tea
Waiting while he met with endless committees
The General’s retinue is not for mere men
Tawdry jokes by the warlord must not be laughed at
Unwilling listeners to many a boring tales we were
To be seen and not heard was our unlucky portion
Many envy us, our lot they’d gladly have
But we are just the others, the insignificant others
The call of duty I can’t refuse
For this purpose was I trained and paid
The air is my habitat, the view from these heights, heavenly
The whims of these silly old men, I have to bear
An order from the Commander of the Forces, my opinions don’t count
I chose to be a Pilot, a lord on air
Ten pages for the General, and six for the Governor
Encomiums, eulogies and accolades
Pour forth in their honours
Our names, many would never know
Oh, the indignity of dying in the midst of dignitaries
Now WE are the OTHERS, the insignificant others.
(Happy birthday to you my friend Olanrewaju Bucknor, aka @lordrooz. May you not die as one of the others)
