IS IT FOR PATRIOTISM OR TREASON

My friend Lemuel Nortey sent me this amassing poem of his. If you are eighteen years or above and a Ghanaian, the chances are that you will be joining a queue come December 7, so while you wait for your turn to exercise your franchise, please do ask yourself; is it for patriotism or treason?

My brothers and fathers!

.....sisters and mothers!

Is it for patriotism or treason?

For the time is here and we`ll run and not cease

to that place under the trees,

to that church space

that hospital yard,

or even by that roadside.

[Despite],

that constantly, with burdens our backs coil

and our foreheads drip with toil,

they shamelessly fight to keep place and trinkets

whiles poverty fills our empty pockets

and yet to the polls we`d go

and make our 'kokromoti' power flow.

so I ask , when we go, is it for patriotism or treason?

Sometimes I even wonder,  is it the promises?

or the mere assurances?

for the 'elephant-people' say

they will pave the way.

Irrevocably, the 'umbrella-people' vow shelter

and a national future that is better.

'Others' promise us well behaved troops

but better yet, tasty chicken to grace our soups.

[Nonetheless]

tenure upon tenure, these broken promises

are thrust awkwardly  in our faces,

still to the polls we`d go

when deep down we know

that the national treasury they`ll make low

however we rush to put them there

but when we do, ask , if you dare

is it for patriotism or treason?

[Yes]

 its time and with treachery in their hearts

and greed in their  eyes

they`ve  come again, to sow seeds of hope

but experience says, they`ll drag us down the slope

and so finally, when you stand  under that  sun

after that long run,

on December seven

ask yourself, is it for patriotism or treason?

By: Lemuel Nortey