You have given us shelter and warmth,
You have given us memories
And reasons to smile…
*
When sons of men laughed at your appearance then
Those wild boys threw stones and the earth pots broke,
We hid in you at first afraid but later mocked their fruitless fight,
But you, you stood bold and proud, letting the stones and words hit you
Sheltering us from the harm which men created in their caste,
And returning nothing to them, nothing even one brick
And we can say it loud and clear; you taught us well!
Now we have learnt humility, the need of not being vengeful
We have learnt the need to be contented, to be satisfied with what we are
*
You stood proud even at the hungriest rainstorm
You stood tall when the sun rays bite the earth
We are proud of you, dear citadel
And now we see why we are grateful, why we must appreciate you!
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Image by Favor Chijindu Iroegbu
