From happy distant lands
A spirit was called upon
To bless the ritual day
The exchange of sweet mortal wine
From fertile ecstatic lands
A sculpture appeared
To seal that ritual night
The exchange of living mortal fluids
He milked the strength of love
And chewed the bone of strength
He drank from mermaid streams
And played with warrior bows
In the sea of years, currents of ill
Roared and Hit yet drowned him not,
He knew their gods and where they lived,
He was the spirit from distant lands
In the gathering of men
His bowl was decked with meat
His gourd was filled with wine
Yes,He was the wine tapper who also loaded his gun
He fell many a time
On earths wrestling ground
But always stood again to pour penitential gin
Saving proverbs for seeds yet unborn
Four market days ago,
he split the kola nut and wryly smiled
Knowing how spirit’s dance
He welcomed the newest one in town
Yesterday morn at the town square
The masquerade missed his way
The silent gong was raised
The eagle perched on his father’s tomb
Today the air will be dry,
Men and Spirit markets will close
The great drums shall sound a dirge
Sons shall be proud of pall-bearing hands
When the Canon Sounds
And Gunpowder fills the air
Then,the spirit will return to distant lands
The African will join ancestral yonder bands
The King shall offer earth her share
As humans drink and toast
In unison with spirits
To welcome the newest ancestor in town
(For the heroic soul of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, The people’s General,Dikedioranma ndi Igbo, Ezeigbo gburugburu)
Wow!..Nice one that celebrates the Ikemba..Well done..
Real nice. I love it’s traditional undertone.
I got lost at some point…but all in all, I loved it.
Wish Ojukwu could read this though…however, he’s gone.
Beautifully written poem.
I love this! the imageries, symbols and personification got me enchanted. carry on!
This is very good O°˚˚˚!
Real Nice
Wow… Wow… Good one…