By Philip U. Effiong
I
subdued clash of wind with concrete,
light metal with rough tar,
flesh on eternal greed,
idiocy with feigned wisdom,
blood with innocence
we chant…
homage to fiery entombment
before the litany of baptism,
before the shedding of old skin
we sing…
elegy for glorious decay, a sudden reunion
of the sacred and ancestral
long before the blood cry of birth,
long before the restless call of hades
II
mother hen has suckled on its own egg
to drown out
not to create…
to replace darkness with somber mist
the drumbeat of initiation
has been drowned out by the mystery of requiem
it is a premature meeting with angels,
the awakening of sleeping angels
III
change is coming, change is coming…
we are investigating
in wooden panels and leaking committees,
we are investigating
in wine light and party dress,
we are investigating
with turbaned insanity and broken dance,
we are investigating
with hollow titles invented
change is coming, change is coming…
we are investigating
with random honorariums concealed
we are deliberating,
dem say…dem say…
we are researching,
dem say…dem say…
we have uncovered,
dem say…dem say…
IV
day flight became night flight
carrying children of yesterday’s prophecy,
ignorant prey to the slaughter,
ignorant of this prophecy:
they embraced the aura of serene clouds
changing from calm white to wet grey
when whispers turned to growls…
alas!
subdued clash of wind with concrete,
light metal with rough tar,
flesh on righteous greed,
idiocy with feigned wisdom,
blood with innocence
confusion with celebrated hysteria…
but change is coming, change is coming…
we are investigating
in wooden panels and dripping committees,
we are investigating
in wine light and party dress,
we are investigating
with turbaned insanity and broken song,
we are investigating
with grandiose titles invented
change is coming, change is coming…
we are investigating
with purple honorariums concealed
we have found out,
dem say…dem say…
we will reconvene,
dem say…dem say
report of the subcommittees,
dem say…dem say…
V
change is coming, change is coming…
from unwilling martyrs
in this premature meeting
with angels,
this awakening of sleeping angels,
this reminder to dormant gods
change is coming, change is coming…
with your unbending wind,
in your green sacrifice, evergreen,
the sacrifice of purity
like globules in a virgin chalice
change is coming
from flesh planted on righteous greed
to re-create
from blameless caskets
and the echo of empty graves….
alas!
Whoa!
This is tight!
Respect, man.
Kudos.
Concrete!