Disciples Of Destruction

By Gbadamosi Joseph

Let the voices speak
Let the rivers shout
Let the Oceans run
Let the Mountains Crawl
Let the cockrels crow
Let the Trumpets sound
Let the cymbals clash
For the time has come.
We will be quiet no longer
Shall never again like lambs await the slaughter
The clock and the bell has come together
This union of Time and sound shall forever linger.

October 1 1960
A babe was born with joy and lifting
Cymbals and trumpets filled the air
Joy and Happiness expressed unending
A day that will never be forgotten.

But as the celebration ensued
In the depths of darkness awaited a Demon
Feared and Revered among the wise
He was an abomination to this world
His Name was Destruction.

Like fire in water
Like an hedgehog in Winter
Like the moon in the day
This Demon hated this day.

But he bided his time
He was a patient Hunter
The patient Lion he thought
Ate the largest share.

Seconds ran into minutes
Minutes into hours
Hours into days
Days into weeks
Weeks into months
Months into years
Destruction must act quickly
Or salvation shall come.

He needed an ally
Or a team of allies
And so with ancient elements he brought together
The most formidable force the world has reckoned.

He Forged them with the stones of Hatred
Fired them up with the flames of Hell
Their arms were made of the Iron called envy
Their legs a combination of theft and looting
Their stomachs and chest were lifted out of a volcano of lies
He called them the Disciples of Destruction.

Disciples of Destruction
Tigers of Hell
Lions of Hades
Channels of Death.

Disciples of Destruction
Enemies of progress
Bosses of the land
Deceptive looters.

Disciples of Destruction
Chosen by the masses
But rule by a Government
of themselves
for themselves
and by themselves.

Disciples of Destruction
The self proclaimed saviours
The heroes of the North
The Sun that rises from the west.

Disciples of Destruction
The ones we hugged with open arms
But ended up biting us in the neck
The ones we shook with firm hands
Who still kept a knife in the other.

Disciples of Destruction
Ubiquitous vampires of our blood
With their eyes abroad
And legs at home.

Disciples of Destruction
The ones who stole our future
For temporary pleasure they kept us in hunger
For unnecessary treasures they tarnished our dreams.

Disciples of Destruction
Are the leaders of the past
The greedy pigs of the present
And the enemies of our future.

Here comes a twist to the Story
Years after the disciples were forged
Another was added
But he was called The Lamb.

Disciples of Destruction
The Lion and the lamb
The Wicked Lions of leaders
The dumb lambs of followers.

The Disciples of Destruction
Are both the wicked looters and the silent watchers
For if we do nothing about our society
Who are we to condemn the others?

We must let our voices rise
Let our rivers shout
Let our oceans run
Let our mountains crawl
Let our cockrels crow
Let our trumpets sound
Let our cymbals clash
For then and then only
Shall salvation come.

AUTHORS NOTE

It is quite intriguing to see the major problem of our Country being told so clearly in the form of a poem. The issues that plague our society is not unknown to us, yet we keep still and with crossed fingers do nothing about it hoping for some saviour to come. When are we going to finally get tired of our predicament? We cannot afford to be Silent. Silence is not an option. A poem was written years back titled THE AMBASSADORS OF POVERTY by P.O.C. UMEH. The writer ended with a cry for us to do something about the situation of our land. A good number of us read that poem in literature class and did nothing about it. The bitter truth is if we do nothing we shall have ourselves to blame. The future of our dear land lies in our hands. Like Mr. UMEH said at the end of his poem, I rest my case.