Biafra

POETRY

by Poroyé

My mother must have been born in Biafra  

My mother’s father was killed off in the war  

My father, a Yoruba village boy   

Giddily swimming in a child’s river when they took up arms  

My mother’s father was killed off in the war  

Ma, why didn’t you tell me?  

Giddily swimming in a child’s river when they took up arms  

I read about the Bight of Biafra on Wikipedia 

Ma, why didn’t you tell me?  

Ndo, I know it’s not my place to ask but 

I read about the Bight of Biafra on Wikipedia  

Ndo, I just want to connect the dots  

Ndo, I know it’s not my place to ask but 

I read of Ojukwu, he was a great man  

Ndo, I just want to connect the dots 

Honor half of a yellow sun  

I read of Ojukwu, he was a great man 

Ma, you of all people should know  

Honor half of a yellow sun 

You know what it takes to leave a home 

Ma, you of all people should know  

Leaving is harder than it seems  

You know what it takes to leave a home 

But I fear the famine is what took them away 

Leaving is harder than it seems 

You fear how family slips through the cracks 

But I fear the famine is what took them away  

Biko, I just want to remember  

You fear how family slips through the cracks  

Can you remind me of your maiden name?  

Biko, I just want to remember  

There are still pieces of us missing  

Can you remind me of your maiden name?  

I need you to tell me what you know  

There are still pieces of us missing   

Nkwa, you will tell me soon 

I need you to tell me what you know 

My father, a Yoruba village boy 

Nkwa, you will tell me soon 

My mother must have been born in Biafra