In the places no one can see
A cry calls forth like a Sultan’s kakaki
For expression for light it seeks
It calls from without and within
And I could stretch and stretch and stretch
I could even tear my bones out of my flesh
And reach out I would with even greater vigor reach out I would
You see, I already kissed my past goodbye
Told folks of my destination heights
My starting point the skies
Big plans big dreams big sights
All crumpled up to what now seems to be a lie
Cos no matter how hard I try
To touch or take a glimpse perhaps find out what my future is like
Beyond this heavily clouded skies of my present
The rays of its brightness would always stop short of my nail’s ends

To let go of my dreams and live in the past
To force a smile as fate hands me the defeated card
Yet cry in the rain wondering what should have come to pass
To point an accusing finger at my successful counterparts
To curse my luck and find an excusable fault
To stop trying and give up remains the easy part
Alas!!! I’ve come too far to let go now
If I could live through the absence
Of mama and papa cuddled over my cradle watching me do my nonsense
Their love teaching me the value of life’s essence
If I could learn to laugh till my ribs hurt
If I could find satisfaction in lack and wealth though poor
If I could find a friend when a brother was too much to afford
If I could beat the odds and survive the storm
If then I didn’t give up or surrender to the norm
I know I can breakthrough if given a chance but one

Though in this deep struggle for the top
Yet of this truth I’m so sure
That if given just about a chance I can conquer all
I wish I could scream for help from the rooftops
But I’m so filled with ravaging hunger and malnutrition queued up
Preoccupied with survival so I don’t notice as my mentality demons and my environment gang up
They struggle to drown out my cries my hope
If only one could hear my stifled moan
In the places no one can see
A cry calls forth like a Sultan’s kakaki
For expression for light it seeks
It calls from without and within
Perhaps someone will hear and give heed
Whether he be the eagle I seek or a mocking jay
Then that chance I need may come someday
I know I am just another orphan today
But if given a chance I know I will prevail.

By
Ezeonyeka Godswill
hAPpY cHiLdrEn’S dAY Nigeria!!!