A Public Secret
1847
Once upon an antebellum time
a new nation God chose to create,
from a remnant of Africa’s Diaspora
that he’d liberate then repatriate.
A noble conception
though bitter-sweet in reflection;
the indigenous population’s assimilation
of a kindred yet foreign infiltration.
Still…with blessings this “Land of Liberty” was crowned.
Infrastructure grew sound,
missionaries did abound,
and for a hundred years sweet peace could be found.
Yet amidst this blessed prosperity,
the heart’s of native sons grew explosively fraught
with the inequitable disparity
between those who had and those who had not.
Blinded by greed...the powers that be
did callous, self-serving, unscrupulous things.
The disenfranchised voice they foolishly ignored
as it wailed of injustices abhorred.
Contracts for unspeakable sacrifices
became merely one of many infamous devices
for securing ever so wickedly,
money, power and perpetual sovereignty.
But the ill-fated straw that broke the camel’s back
fell when the price of rice inflated to thirty bucks a sack.
Bush-man and market-woman took to the street
demanding to know how their families they’d feed.
Instead of answers, what the masses would receive
was a blood-splattered foretaste, no man would perceive,
as the hailing of an accursed and shameful decimation
of what was intended to be a peaceful and noble nation.
Leader after leader fell by the hand of the sword.
War after diamond fueled war came to no peaceable accord.
The very score of the republic’s foundation was tumultuously shaken.
Speculation flew that in divine retribution the people had been forsaken.
Though noted for exacting wrath upon the rebellious,
the Almighty is renowned for and equally zealous
in renewing his grace as surely as the new dawn.
Thus, his redemptive purposes he did spawn.
With the last despot having been smote,
the beleaguered citizens emerged to cast their vote
for the daughter of the soil dubbed, “ Iron Lady”;
exemplifying what the love of liberty can triumphantly achieve.
a new nation God chose to create,
from a remnant of Africa’s Diaspora
that he’d liberate then repatriate.
A noble conception
though bitter-sweet in reflection;
the indigenous population’s assimilation
of a kindred yet foreign infiltration.
Still…with blessings this “Land of Liberty” was crowned.
Infrastructure grew sound,
missionaries did abound,
and for a hundred years sweet peace could be found.
Yet amidst this blessed prosperity,
the heart’s of native sons grew explosively fraught
with the inequitable disparity
between those who had and those who had not.
Blinded by greed...the powers that be
did callous, self-serving, unscrupulous things.
The disenfranchised voice they foolishly ignored
as it wailed of injustices abhorred.
Contracts for unspeakable sacrifices
became merely one of many infamous devices
for securing ever so wickedly,
money, power and perpetual sovereignty.
But the ill-fated straw that broke the camel’s back
fell when the price of rice inflated to thirty bucks a sack.
Bush-man and market-woman took to the street
demanding to know how their families they’d feed.
Instead of answers, what the masses would receive
was a blood-splattered foretaste, no man would perceive,
as the hailing of an accursed and shameful decimation
of what was intended to be a peaceful and noble nation.
Leader after leader fell by the hand of the sword.
War after diamond fueled war came to no peaceable accord.
The very score of the republic’s foundation was tumultuously shaken.
Speculation flew that in divine retribution the people had been forsaken.
Though noted for exacting wrath upon the rebellious,
the Almighty is renowned for and equally zealous
in renewing his grace as surely as the new dawn.
Thus, his redemptive purposes he did spawn.
With the last despot having been smote,
the beleaguered citizens emerged to cast their vote
for the daughter of the soil dubbed, “ Iron Lady”;
exemplifying what the love of liberty can triumphantly achieve.
2006
Once Upon A Time - The Liberian Story
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