'The Charges Against Me' by Michael Inioluwa Oladele

They sent me to prison

They say I cover the sins of the righteous

and reveal the truth of the liars;

but am just a small boy called Silas

putting ink down on paper

They say I hate the hungry farmers

they say I loathe the poor people

people as fat as Grandma’s needle;

but I don’t hate nobody

for after the farmer farms the farm

who comes with the cows to cause the harm

They say I love hatred and silence silence

they say I do not want out soldiers to win;

but I hate never been to the front

though I sit always with the devil’s box in front.

For a wise man once wrote,

‘There are kings and there are puns

Who takes the glory when the war is done?’

They say I hate justice

and am a threat to injustice,

They say I have a pistol

and that I must die;

But

who fears death?

for I have neither gun nor pistol

just a small pen bleeding blood

and I am no threat to justice

for I am just a small boy named Silas

putting ink down on papers.

Michael Inioluwa Oladeleis a student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction and his works have been published on The Naked Convos and Tuck Magazine. Check out his works on inspirationalsquad.blogspot.com. This poem was first published on poetry.wrr.ng

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