Heroic Resistance: Heroes Don’t Die!
By Yero Jallow
Always remember your times’ heroes
The gallant –Selfless, courageous and they don’t die
Those that fought to liberate you
From the clutches of tyranny
To the injustices and political oppression.
You are in the battlefield of conquest
Face-to-face with a relentless enemy
On your right side, a wounded comrade groans
On your left side, another fallen comrade dead
In front of you, the enemy still advances fiercely.
In your memories, it is over with -defeat
Then a re-assuring voice re-sharpened your courage
Somewhere, somehow you woke up to the reality
You picked up a new momentum and recharged your spirit
Carrying the nation’s flag and leading the combatants.
Again, the heavenly voice echoed in your ears
You saw the dawn unfold with brighter lights
You saw the Promised Land –liberty, freedom, and justice
You saw the heavenly valleys for your citizens
You convinced yourself not to give up.
In your new world, it is a consistent struggle
You lived and died for a rewarding principle
Not looking back to times’ detractors and gossips
And you saw the conquest and know it must be
You comforted your soul and celebrated your heroes.
You remembered Menander’s resounding verse:
“He who fights and run away, may live to fight another day”
You blew the caller flutes for a bigger gathering
You regrouped, mobilized, and tried again
Until victory echoes, it remains a battle to conquer.
Heroes, some gone to eternity and others alive
Heroes, some with lasting wound scars and others afresh
Heroes, some to languish in jail albeit judicial biases
Heroes, we celebrate you greatly with our warm hearts
Rest in peace to the fallen comrades and till again, we will see!!