Our Poem of the Week is ‘Purpose is defeated’ by Kporho Vwede Daniel
This week, we’ve chosen Purpose is Defeated, by Kphoro Vwede Daniel from Warri, in the Delta state of Nigeria. His poem holds a mirror up to the political situation in his country, and his answers to our Q&A are below...
What got you into writing poetry?
I get inspired by circumstances.
How long have you been writing?
I started three years ago.
Do you go to any poetry nights?
No, but I wish I could attend any , I will love to.
Who is your favourite poet? And your favourite poem?
Niyi Osudare ....'A song for Ajegunle'.
You are cast away on a desert island. What is your luxury?
A pen and a blank sheet of paper.
PURPOSE IS DEFEATED
by Kphoro Vwede Daniel
Long time ago, they left the boundaries
Like an eagle from afar, they sight our mysteries
In the system, they saw mismanagement within
They robbed their way in
They killed their fellow uniform man eventually
And the cycle continues circularly
Civilians pursued
Powers misused
Purpose is defeated
We have formally forgotten those days
When virtues of peace were promoted with violence
When the press were oppressed
When justice was jeopardized
When our constitution was constrained to contempt without conscience
When the scales were afraid of scary blood, but love printed papers
When the beaks of singing parrots were broken
When religious teachers were treated rigorously
Purpose is defeated
Purpose came again
Our uniform men are well informed
But they are not well equipped
A great battalion with good training
Against that without training
A great battalion with pieces of metal
Against that with powerful machines
Ready but not resourceful
Purpose is defeated
No longer dying for the nation
Lets bring down those rebels
A call of duty to the north
They respond with gallant boots and courage
They respond with pieces of metal on their hands
They respond to a place where many have fallen
Even at that, they fought gallantly
They were made to improvise arms
Purpose is defeated
They return with blood stained boots, hands and courage
Their faces and pieces of metal looking down
They have fought a good fight
But sorrow lurks around our families
Women now widows
Offsprings now orphans
Uncle died as one of them
Father retired as one of them
Pension still on attention, no ease?
Purpose is defeated
Purpose is here again
Retreat! Retreat!! Retreat!!!
Fela Kuti sang 'Zombie! '
Check point checking for phone users
Bloody civilians! Dont make a call here!
Sheep flogged, goats flee
They get recruited just for revenge
Purpose is defeated
Purpose is here again today
Where natural death is rare
People are killed
People are killing
People are on their way to kill
Cows are chewing crops
Crops are chewing cows
This is not normal!
Purpose is defeated.
Kenny Knight
Mon 30th Jul 2018 08:27
Very well written I felt like I could almost see what you've seen.