WHEN WE BUILD AGAIN

WHEN WE BUILD AGAIN Before the eclipse turned our day into nightWhen our forebears came together, years agoTo build a small house, but big enough to contain allThey sang the first song of freedom for our familiesThe roof, like a bird with wings, tilted skywardA large eagle flew across, never before seen by menBut, as they gazed upward, they saw a falcon’s eyes Blocks and stones were brought to the siteFrom the quarry, through the winding creeksTo the plot of land acquired on Jones’ AvenueWith seasoned artisans and experts sort forThe workforce had hopes, high, as tall as IrokoTo leave a lasting legacy to the coming offspringA module of hob and spoke was adoptedWith Abuja, a unified core city, the centre The builders assembled for ground-breakingThe chief work man changed the original planPolluted and infected the timbers and calibersSham took a shovel, mixed cement with soapAnd weakened the very foundation from the startSo when they laboured hard to the lintel levelO! This house has fallen from the other end With the base pillar of truth compromisedNot as laid out in planned pyramid of idealsIntended to root out distorted rotten elementsAlong with falsehood, greed and insincerityThe state house is on the brink of caving inFear lurks in the minds of men aroundOn what will happen, when we build again...