In Oyo’s land where rivers wind,
And marketplaces their stories bind,
I speak of a heart unkind,
“Modern Day Slavery,” its verses unwind.
Through vibrant stalls where history thrives,
In Ibadan’s heart, where hope survives,
A husband’s deeds, a tale derives,
Of disrespect that love deprives.
In toxicity’s breeze, a story unfolds,
Of an African husband, a tale untold,
His wife, a slave, or so he has been told,
Equal rights denied, a love grown cold.
Beneath the sun’s gaze, their bond does fray,
In marketplaces’ bustling display,
He treats her harsh, no kindness to convey,
His archaic beliefs, like shadows, weigh.
Yet, hope lingers amidst the strife,
For love’s endurance is woven through life,
In Oyo’s essence, amid the market’s rife,
A call for change cuts through the strife.
Let “Modern Day Slavery” be a plea,
To break the chains and set hearts free,
In warm embrace, let love decree,
Equal rights and respect, for you and me.
© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi
Ifedolapo Ogunniyi 