Here they come
armies of Night
clad in full armor
guarding their thick long necks, their breasts, their hearts
cowry shells of virgin steel.
These giant sun-eyed warriors now
ringed round the wall of the enclave in
whose mansions asleep on golden beds, drooling on
silk beddings, the custodian rulers of the land, men of the gods,
predators of dreamers and their dreams, masses and masses of
whom they devour night after night, sapping their spirit,
renewing and fortifying themselves on their blood,
taking demonic care to leave just enough blood left
in them to keep hope alive in them.
Prepare the household for
we must all soon flee to
the sanctuary of the belly of the jungle as
this night blood will flow
like lava all over the land,
edifying,
cleansing
our rebirth.
© 2023 Ségun Ògúntólá