Roaches In Our Paths (poem) by Abu-Hassan Askia Koroma on AuthorsDen

Roaches In Our Paths
by Abu-Hassan Askia Koroma → (All Poetry by Abu-Hassan Askia Koroma)
Rated "G" by the Author.

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This poem was conceived on a rainy day in Sierra Leone during a month-long visit from April 20 to May 26, 2001. A sudden and heavy downpour of rain has just stopped. Everyone seemed caught off guard as thirty minutes let loose nature�s wrath or, was it kindness? The gutters overflowed and deposited their stinking contents on the pavements. An intrusion of roaches were floated and scattered all over the place; running in various directions. Most were eaten by fowls. Their presence was such an eyesore. The roaches in this poem may have taken a human form. The heavy downpour of rain is synonymous with both a symbolic wish for clarity and a mechanism to flush out the roaches. The light is synonymous of hope and the lack of it. Either way, if one could see, the way is clear. But the pitfalls are many and darkness still looms.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As if a decade of war isn't frightening enough Worsening downpours of rains makes it tough In dirt, rut and filth Roaches are wealth. Horrible! Behold the roaches emerge Ruthless and filthy creatures converge From darkness to light Our paths are flooded with plight. Horrible, Horrible!! No light; no illumination In the horizon, hope seems like an abomination Spreading filth everywhere Time to strike back? Stop here! Very horrible! These wretched creatures Have become our psychological features Sickening within us This unbearable stress Very, very horrible!! Fortitude and Veracity rein in determination Moving toward destination To keep the gutters clean Behold the people of the book say, Amen! Aaaamen!!! Sanitary sewage of hope With brooms to mope Blessed with life, oh vengeance The Nation strikes back with diligence At roaches in our paths! © Abu-Hassan “Askia” Koroma
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Reviewed by Cles Wilson

Reviewed on August 10, 2005

This is the living truth.

Reviewed by Judy Lloyd (Reader)

Reviewed on February 20, 2005

This is amazing and in 1997 after our house had burned down which nearly killed my husband and did kill my dogs what should survive but the roaches. Well we have not seen many in the new house as we are careful of paper products and had an exterminator come in. But a roach can survive a nuclear blast.