Enter the Vampire

"Our appeal is straighforwardly based on the need for clemency as an essential element in the attainment of that healing process which the present national leader swore to embark upon, on taking oath of office. Without being superstitious, we cannot but observe how a 10-year cycle of blood-letting appears to have become an incubus on the very life of the nation's Armed Forces - 1966, 1976 and now 1986. You possess the will to break this jinx. You have the moral duty to exercise that will."

- Chinua Achebe, J.P.Clark and Wole Soyinka

in a petition to General Ibrahim Babangida at Dodan Barracks on March 4, 1986.

11

if you are going to dodan,
dont wear flowers in your hair.

if you are gong to dodan,
dont write or chant poetry.

if you are going to dodan,
dont mention human rights.

if you are going to dodan,
dont announce consummation's cycle.

if you are going to dodan,
ride in an armoured carrier...


III

The betelgeuse of compassion
led three graying sages
to the dodan of decision.

Our three wise men
brought no gold,
brought no frankincense,
brought no myrhh,
only logos of compassion
to break cycle of consummation.

But no room in the ears
of the leader-lord
to hear professorial pleas.

If you are going to dodan,
ride in an armoured carrier...

© Emman Usman Shehu

• Enter the Vampire is taken from Emman Usman Shehu's first collection of poetry, 'Questions for Big Brother' (ANA/Update, 1988).
• Used with permission.