On Edge of Time Future

Ben OkriBen Okri

2 min read · 12.4K reads

I remember the history well:
The soldiers and politicians emerged
With briefcases and guns
And celebrations on city nights.They scoured the mess
Reviewed our history
Saw the executions at dawn
Then signed with secret policemenAnd decided something
Had to be done.They scoured the mess
Resurrected old blue-prints
Of vicious times
Tracked the shapes of sinking citiesAnd learned at last
That nothing can be avoided
And so avoided everything.
I remember the history well.                                                                
We emerged from our ******* mounds
Discovered a view of the sky
As the air danced in heat.Through the view of the city
In flames, we rewound times
Of executions at beaches.
Salt streamed down our brows.Everywhere stagger victims of rigged elections
Monolithic accidents on hungry roads
The infinite web of ethnic politics
Power-dreams of fevered winds.The nation was a map stitched
From the grabbing of future flesh
And became a rush through
Historical slime                                                                
We emerged on edge
Of time future
With bright fumes
From burning towers.The fumes lit political rallies.
We started a war
Ended it
And dreamed about our chance.Fat fish eat little fish
Big ones arrange executions
And armed robberies.
Our ******* shapes us all.I remember the history well.
The tiger’s snarl is bought
In currencies of silence.
Eggs grow large:A monstrous face is hatched.
On the edge of time future
I am a boy
With running soresOf remember history
Watching the stitches widen
Waiting for the volcano’s laughter
In the fevered windsHearing the gnash
Of those who will join us
At the mighty gateways
With new blue-printsWith dew as seal
And fire as constant
And a trail through time past
To usWho remember the history well.
We weave words on red
And sing on the edge of blue.
And with our nerves primedWe shall spin silk from *******
And frame time with our resolve.
__
Source:
http://www.universeofpoetry.org/nigeria.shtml
Ben Okri
About the poet

Ben Okri

1959 -/South AfricanMarch 15, 1959) is a Nigerian poet and novelist. Having spent his early childhood in London, he and his family returned to Nigeria in 1968. He later left for England, embarking on studies at the University of Essex. He has received honorar…

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