Alas! there is terror in the land. <br />There is hurlyburly in the jungle. <br />Herds scampered for safety. <br />The elephants cocooned behind trees; <br />Lions buried their claws underground; <br />The tigers wrapped their canines with leaves; <br />In awe of ferocius alliance of foxes and hyena. <br /> <br />The roaring of the new predators <br />Shakes the wilderness <br />Making iroko tree to shed leaves spasmodically. <br />Date palm delivered prematurely in the savannah. <br />The bamboo refused to sprout. <br />The whole land convulsed; <br />Ushering thick darkness <br /> <br />Alas! the shepherd hues <br />Seeking for foreign alliance <br />To tame the marauding scavengers. <br />The vigilantes are asleep <br />Leaving the land defenceless <br />Giving rooms for the allied predators <br />To match their jackboots on the land. <br /> <br />Tears and sorrows flow in the land. <br />Lives are caught down at plumes. <br />Sighs and hopelessness inhabit homes. <br />The shepherd could not tame the predators. <br />The jet-lagged guards are fainting <br />And could no longer fight the predators <br /> <br />Haba! who shall be the next prey? <br />Where will the predators strike again? <br />Who is the true owner of the land? <br />Is it the shepherd or the predators? <br />Will there be an end to the hurlyburly? <br />When shall peace reign in the land again? <br />When shall this carnage cease? <br />Oh! there seems to be no end at sight <br />The land is afraid of itself <br />There is terror in the land <br />Someone help our motherland. <br /> <br />(IN MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA)<br /><br />Babatunde Aremu<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/terror-in-the-land/
