If only you can let me have my say,
And stop standing in my way.
I listen to you;my leaders everyday!
But I wonder: Why don't you do the same?
My speaking agony that is not heard makes me rather go insane.
After all my efforts to speak and to be heard all went in vain.
I walk alone at the river bank,
Because I am tired of hierarchy of rank.
That is used as the criteria in every society.
I listen to my parents...
Why don't they do the same?
Why not one time, let me express my own individuality?
My heart sink in all the way.
I try to speak,to be heard but now my voice is vague!
Burning desire to share and express,
But you give me no chance and you seek no redress.
Myriads and more,I want to say to you,
But now you quench my words,am as pale as blue!
I sit and await that day that will never come,
When you will stand and say "am all ears,speak on!"
If only you could open your eyes to the reality,
That there is more to me than a presumed nonentity.
If only you could open your eyes to my plead,
That true leaders do not lead the followers but follow to lead.
If just one day you remember my agony,
That has led me to this state of melancholy.
I have called my little conscience into war,
Because all my leaders come and go with the same flaw.
I believe, one day, I will have my liberation,
After all my feeble thoughts have been put into consideration.
Hear! O hear!
Hear what I have to share.
Please I plea, Look upon me with mercy,
Pity my dying potential, which upon your negligence, has become dusty.
I sit and await that day still stands opaque,
When you will say, "Speak on, O little child, without delay!"
BY: AKINKUOTU Ibukun LLB1 and
OLALEKAN Temidayo LLB1
Faculty of Law,
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
