PEACE BE WITH YOUR SOUL – SAMUEL

Calm the despairing child;
Speak to him words of consolation.
Make him feel a moment of silence
that peace to his soul may make a return

Overtaken by anger and frustration,
Nothing could unveil the mystery behind his misfortune.
He fells his soul buried in endless thoughts
Each time he makes a journey to his past.

Though, grieved beyond all speech
In a flashback, he remembered his mother.
Defenceless though she was, she followed her killers.
His heart was filled with pain as he watched her weep.

Her sighs were blown away in the air
With none hearing the sound of her voice
In vain was her hope to see his son's face
After the enemies took her away to a land of no return.

Bowed to the dust of the earth
His heart depressed by grief as tears accompanied his sorrow to the valley of loneliness.
From that minute, despair took hold of him.

He said, "Why do I love her? It is my decision.
Shall I let my answer be known to all?
Shall I sing it like a song?
Shall I recite it like a prayer?

Question the world around you if you are in doubt;
Call the angels in heaven to attest.
The saints can equally give an account of her.
Call and ask anyone else you want.

Shall I draw out a map of all her value,
And parcel her virtues to make you understand?
No, there is no need to convince you;
I love her. She is my best.

Shall I make an inventory of all her goodness, generosity, kindness and love
To which I have been a beneficiary from cradle till date?

Though, she was poor and happy. I love her spirit
As I lay my life in homage at her feet
I say, Mother, I will be true until the sun shall fail
From out of your life, other men snatched you away from me
Because you preferred to offer your life that I may live.
Peace be with your soul".

NB: This poem is dedicated to all the victims of war, violence and insecurity in our society, especially, to the African child. I pray that God may console every individual or family that may have experienced the brutal and sudden death of their loved ones. To the dead, may their souls rest in peace. To their killers, may God grant them the grace of conversion and repentance. Let us continue to sustain the helpless and homeless children, and ensure them a brighter future.

Prisca Onyinye Nwokorie is a  Roman Catholic nun. She belongs to the religious order of “Oblates of St. Benedict Joseph Labre” in Italy. She is a graduate of the University of Bari where she obtained her Bachelor’s and Masters’ degrees in “Information and Communication Technologies for the Production of Software” and “Computer Science” respectively. Currently, she is carrying out research work on “E-learning for Developing Countries”.

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