If You Forgave Them

By Chuks Oluigbo

If you forgave them Pharaohs, Herods, Pilates;

If you forgave them Popes

For them Inquisitions;

If you forgave White Europe

For them atrocities against my land

As Senghor prayed,

(I still wonder why he should pray so);

If you forgave America

For them subtle imperialism;

If you forgave Hitler

For ’39-45;

If you forgave the Bushes of history;

If you forgive China

For turning my land into a dump;

If you forgave them,

Then Lord, you must forgive me

For not believing in you.