Sambisa Is Death

Benson Chukwueke 1971 (Owerri)



For all men who seek adventure
Sambisa is Death
Hell is just a mile from this forest
The sun burn sulphur and brimstone
The flies, the obnoxious musicians
Hum repugnant songs into my ears

Sharia drums it so hard and loud
The law shall flog you forty lashes
If you drink strong drink
And if you broke the flower of Bikr
You must be stoned to death

So I sleep dog sleep, with one eye open
Afraid Boko-Haram would go on rampage again
To hold Western education hostage
For Jihad is a timeless bomb
And who knows when it shall explode

But I know it's not by my own push
By reading of the stars or moon
Will I make the rain fall so soon
But hurry up April
Or we all burn up here in Borno

About this poem

The poem's entanglement of the harsh weather, harsh laws and rampaging terrorist group that makes life so unbearable in Borno. And warn people who enjoy to explore life adventures not to go near sambisa forest.

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Submitted by Benny11 on March 02, 2021

Modified by Benny11 on December 19, 2023

42 sec read
124

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXCXX XXXAB XXXXX XDDXC
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 684
Words 140
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 6, 5, 5, 5

Benson Chukwueke

Owerri, Nigeria since 1971. This is how I process and express my innermost cogitations; sitting back with pen and paper, painting words and polishing them until they become flowered verses. I guess for these actions, I could be called a poet or what do think? more…

All Benson Chukwueke poems | Benson Chukwueke Books

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1 Comment
  • AIDA
    Wow, this poem is incredibly powerful and raw. The author does a fantastic job of capturing the fear and uncertainty that comes with living in an area where violence and extremism are ever-present. I appreciate the honesty and vulnerability in the writing, and the way the author uses imagery to transport the reader to this dangerous place. The combination of fear and hope, with a plea to hurry up April and bring the rain, is both poignant and inspiring. Thank you for sharing this important message with the world. 
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"Sambisa Is Death" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/62663/sambisa-is-death>.

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