By Momodou Ndow
Welcome to Gamrock! Oh Gambia why Gambia?
A federal penitentiary with open skies and tighter than Alcatraz
Masses isolated in solitary confinement compelled to worship Babili
Escape a luxury only a few can afford
Corpse floating in the Atlantic Ocean from failed attempts
Welcome to Gamrock! Oh Gambia why Gambia?
20 years of guessing and being in the dark
Blind visions differentiated only by number 2020, 2016, 2015
A recycling center where officials get dumped as toxic waste after use
But still many faithfully answer to the calling of Babili
Welcome to Gamrock! Oh Gambia why Gambia?
Institutions hijacked and religion kidnapped
Oh God must I watch, hear and feel relentless scraping
Metal against flesh a country’s uterus screaming
Contracting wildly in confusion and excruciating pain
Welcome to Gamrock! Oh Gambia why Gambia?
Blood racing into the river causing it to overflow
Fish migrate seeking a new and safe habitat
The Mile2 vampire constantly thirsty for fresh blood
Beating mosquitoes to every drop leaving them to starve
Welcome to Gamrock! Oh Gambia why Gambia?
Economic progress a deadbeat dad and always absent
Unemployment a single mother and always present
Too many kids to feed in a dry land
Wonder if water will ever come out of the rock
Welcome to Gamrock! Oh Gambia why Gambia?
Adults sitting with their tongues deep inside their pockets
Who will unfold the children’s consciousness?
The going is tough and the tough is at a standstill
Is God willing, unwilling, present or absent?
Welcome to Gamrock! Oh Gambia why Gambia?
Night turns to day but darkness persistently lingers
The noise keeps growing in a nation’s head reaching a crescendo
And now out of commonwealth and into uncommon-poverty
Dancing with North Korea, I wonder who will aid who?
Welcome to Gamrock!
Ends