Biafra, 1969 by Chinua Achebe

First time Biafra

Was here, we're told, it was a fine Figure massively hewn in hardwood.

Voracious white ants

Set upon it and ate Through its huge emplaced feet To the great heart abandoning A furrowed, emptied scarecrow.

And sun-stricken waves came and beat crazily About its feet eaten hollow Till crashing facedown in a million fragments It was floated gleefully away To cold shores-cartographers alone Marking the coastline

Of that forgotten massive stance.

In our time it came again

In pain and acrid smell