Eunice Ngongkum
TO A FALLEN PATRIOT
Lachrymose dues for a fallen hero
the people proffer, overwhelmed.
Ripples of emotion, ripples of fear
tear through the heart like swelling streams
our loss is unspeakable!
Fruitless our efforts to restrain you
dud tears register our woe
grey dawns fail to harness death
for you cut down in raw prime
eager to raise a flag for home
You went down on that turf
like a potato sack dropped in haste
we clutch the emptiness in our insides
gazing at your patriotic fervour
tall like the Fako heights
Allow us draw a leaf from your garland
To clothe our country with fealty
In this night of jackals.