Submerged

It moves fast

With the force of ten thousand men

Racing towards our lands

And dwelling above our farms

Moving inland

Sweeping the land

Causing loss and grief

But insistent it is

I climb up to my rooftop to watch…

To watch it  approach my cemented wall

My gate rattles and shakes

Because it knocks with great might

In fear I shake

Trembling and anticipating

It slowly creeps into my territory

And a tear drop slips down my right cheek

It’s awesome how the one once ignored

The peaceful one can cause so much loss

All around me…I’m surrounded!

Surrounded as it tenaciously claims my land

I’m vexed

I’m sad

But I can do nothing

So I sit still and stare

Its roar intimidates my courage

Courage to watch it overtake all in its way

Overtaking my land, house…my property!

I scream but no one hears my cry

No one at home but me

No one to hold

No one in sight

Only plain darkness I see

I give up on my cry for help

Ignoring the thought of any sort of help

Waiting to be submerged by this overwhelming being

But suddenly I see a light

I hear my name being screamed

“Usoro jump into the water!”, the familiar voice screams

“I’ll take you to dry land”, the voice screams again

I look at the canoe below with tears of joy and relief in my eyes

And so grateful I am to God!

By Sylvia Chika

sylviachika@gmail.com

http://sylviachika.blogspot.com/

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Twitter:@sylviaoz