We Were There at the Slaughter by Chii Ọganihu

"the ones who could stop it would not / the ones who would stop it could not"

We Were There at the Slaughter

by Chii Ọganihu

we were there at the slaughter
at the slaughter of Fala 

not all of us are guilty;
someone—not I—held the knife
and someone—not I—gave the order
but there are no innocents among us

some of us were inside the room
some of us were outside the room
some, just there by the door
but we were all in the same house

when Fala’s throat was slashed the blood splashed on us
Konko got it on his lips
Atteke got it on her fingernail
Tono’s throat was hit at the same place Fala’s was slit

Atteke wiped her hand on her skirt
Konko brought out his tongue and licked
and even those who did not see the blood
heard the cries pouring from Fala’s truncated throat

the ones who could stop it would not 
the ones who would stop it could not 
the ones who cared not numbered most of all; 
those who are not guilty must at least be shamefaced

we were there at the slaughter 
and none of our hands is clean

First published in New Orleans Review, Issue 53: Summer 2025.