A poem by Maria Mark Mshelia
Felt this lump in my throat
Lump of pain and anger
A pool of tears almost pouring
I feel like screaming
I feel helpless and powerless
I feel like I am the superhero the world needs
Yet, powerless
Bottled up in one corner
What good then is being a super hero?
Like Jesus standing in the clouds and everyone from every corner of the world can hear him
I would want to stand and shout so everyone can hear me
So I can relieve my pains
Pains you say? What pains?
Pains about Climate Change
Pains about the floods and how it is our fault
Pains about heat-waves and how it is our fault
Pains about Cyclones and Typhoons
About landslides
About Famine and drought
About burning of fossils
About pollution
About blocking our drains
About throwing trash out of moving cars
About improper disposal of our trash
I want to scream to those in charge of us
About how they hold the power
To make policies that could change all these
How they could ban plastic bags, bottles and the rest
How they could set up recycling factories
But, they lay low
Majority of them without the knowledge of Climate Change
How they’ll help, I wonder
My head hurts, my heart bleeds
I weep for my unborn children
If climate change will take a worse turn in the next few years
If we don’t act up
Then, why should I bring my kids to this condemned world?
For them to suffer?
Die in cyclones?
Die in Floods?
Die in famine and drought?
No, no, no!
I refuse to let them drown
It’s unfair
Hold me down lest I crash from pains
My soul, my heart, my head, my body
This girl is on fire
There would be nowhere to run
Go abroad?
You are not safe
The typhoon, the cyclones and floods will not leave you in peace
These Cyclones I tell you are creeping in
We heard of them only from afar
On TVs and Radios
Now, they are upon us
Without mercy or fear
All our fault
All our fault
We can not only pray
We have the power in our hands
To change things around
Wake up, children of the earth
Save thy mother from dying
Save her from yourselves
Don’t be bad children
Repay your mother with goodness
About the Author
Maria Mark Mshelia is a SustyViber. She is a travel agent based in Abuja. A member of the YALI Network, Deputy Coordinator of Face to Face Bauchi and RLC Alumni, online cohort 2. She is a graduate of Leisure and Tourism Management from the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi. She Leads the “Follow the Money” team in Bauchi State. A volunteer with ONE Campaign and Amnesty International. She is also an entrepreneur focusing on Fashion Design, especially Ankara accessories and wall art.