The infantry hoisted a beige flag
Up in the sky. My calligraphed name danced as
The soft breeze romanced the flagpole.
On their lips, the rhythm of my praise,
Somewhere in Wis-Dom, I recall the brevity of m’days
The neighs of the horses faintly articulate
Lullabies that lull me to an unsolicited slumber
The maidens of Orsu stomp their feet in clays.
On their lips, the melody of my praise,
Somewhere in Wis-Dom, I recall the brevity of m’days
I’d stood all my life
The idea of ‘sitting’ was foreign to me
Until that dreary journey to Oguta lake
A mile my weary feet had to trek.
Trudging along the bouldery path,
My big toe couldn’t resist the beauty of a hard rock
Mmwah they kissed
Gbaaam I fell, face flat
Word had reached Izombe
Even before I found my feet
The Orsu maidens jeered at me
The horses broke my shin with their hooves
I’d been on that path for a week, for all to see
This day, I testify that
Seven days without food makes one weak
Footnote:
Orsu: A village in Eastern Nigeria
Oguta lake: A lake in Imo state.
Izombe: A town in Imo state.
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