DIDACTIC: "THE EVERLASTING MARK" BY VINCENT HOSU

They say the pen is mightier than the sword,

Isn't that absurd?

But just like the spear in the hand of the beholder,

so is a pen in the hand of the holder.

Anyone can scribble,

but not everyone can dig the buried truth,

not everyone can turn scrabble words to liberation keys,

not everyone can say,

"My ink became a river washing corruption away". 

So, let the writers right,

let them right the wrong,

the wrong that injustice had sung

from the years of horror night. 

Let poetry become the hope against despair,

a resistance against oppression,

let it become the quiet revolution that changes the world.

Let every poet become a witness,

that the greatest victories are often won

not on the battlefield but on the pages of history, 

where the pen leaves an everlasting mark.

© Vincent Hosu

- Nigeria.

The Everlasting Mark by Vincent Hosu is a didactic and activist poem that explores the power of the pen and the responsibility of writers and poets in society. The poet challenges the common saying that “the pen is mightier than the sword” by explaining that the effectiveness of the pen depends on the person wielding it. Although anyone can write, only a few writers possess the courage and ability to uncover hidden truths, challenge injustice, and use their words as instruments of liberation.

The poet calls on writers to confront the wrongs perpetrated by injustice and to use literature as a means of exposing corruption and social wrongdoing. He presents poetry as more than an artistic expression; it is portrayed as a source of hope in times of despair and a form of resistance against oppression. Through their writings, poets can speak for the oppressed, preserve important truths, and contribute to meaningful social change.

The poem further presents the writer as a witness to the struggles and realities of society. The poet suggests that some of the greatest victories are not achieved through physical battles but through words that survive in history and influence generations. In essence, The Everlasting Mark emphasizes the enduring power of literature and calls on writers to use their pens responsibly in the pursuit of truth, justice, freedom, and societal transformation. The poem ultimately asserts that while physical weapons may win temporary battles, powerful words can leave an everlasting mark on society and history.