My People Chiamaka

By Amarachi Edoziem

I believe God was speaking to me as I wrote these poems, as I was not much of a poet before - or so I thought. I wrote the poems as a way to process the many thoughts and feelings that arise from my observations, interactions and experiences in the world; thoughts that swim around in my mind, heart, and the cells of my body.
Through these poems, God inspired me that there is a natural, more better way.
The poems came very easily, not from me but through me.
I hope I have captured them as the Creator intended.
I trust that they will inspire you as they inspire me everytime I read them.
I dedicate this poem to all those: past and present who have fought and still fight for justice, all those who act from an unshakeable sense of principle and all those who stand up when others refuse to.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amarachi Edoziem
• Release date: Mar 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393961734

Book preview

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

In 69/71 three souls were imprisoned,

For crimes they did not commit;

Holed up alone - 23 hours per day.

But all is not lost for I recall;

As Shakur said,

'you can imprison their bodies,

but not their minds

And certainly not their spirits'.

So I like to dream that their souls soared free,

Out of these bars and the loneliness

- high above into the skies and embraced.

And from their position,

They could envision and see the people;

They would meet there, and nod.

Proud of the work.

They had done.

––––––––

And one by one passing on the baton

(keeping their people safe from harm).

For those who meant them harm,

Are so small - they cannot see.

The grand truth of it!

See you can imprison my body,

Not my mind,

And certainly not my spirit.

Not my work, nor my love

And not my heart or the everlasting power.

And just as their souls soar free,

So do their message of love, self - belief,

Strength of character and strength through grief.

And it joins us all.

It has touched me and I stand tall,

It sparked Tupac and it sparks us all.

Just like them, he was a soldier-

Loud and proud.

And though he died young,

His message lives on:

One nation of people;

Strong and proud.

Self - determining, living loud.

Proud of our culture and all of our ways;

Brothers and sisters always.

Living with self - respect.

Keeping it real.

What other way?

If you want to heal?

Ask yourself - what will the next generation inherit?

Remembering the truth of it:

They can imprison your body

But never your spirit.

Imprison your mind, but not the message in it.

And not your heart or the power of it.

DISCERNMENT

It started to dawn that actually.

Things are not what they seem factually.

Tupac said you have to peep - the-game.

Shame. But true.

It's what you need to do.

Cos they'll discredit then lock your heroes up

And tell the world the lies are true,

And each generation believes them.

Each generation anew.

But it's not the first time.

It won't be the last.

These tactics have been the same.

For years and years past.

And if you're not discerning,

You'll eat it up.

Just as your parents did.

And your children will after you.

But A does not equal B.

If you look dearly, you'll actually C.

Live on your feet,

Stand tall.

Peep the game.

It's the only way forward,

Or you'll die on your knees having only

half - lived.

Only seeing half of what there is to see.

Because in each generation;

They discredit our heroes and then:

Lock them up -

Does the world believe it's true?

Anyway- they might, but not you.

For now you actually see clearly.

You see the picture.

You peeped the game:

You see the future - no longer the same.

It's not the first time.

It won't be the last.

But now not in your generation.

- Just in those past.

ANTIDOTE

It hit me like a bolt of lightening:

We have to be self - directed,

We cannot ask them to free us

Cos they know not how.

It started when I read his story;

Though filled with confusion,