Ogulani

By Nwachukwu Egbunike

 

The waves from the Niger sing

Flowing from deeps

To chants of dirges

For the fading of a prince

 

Hopping from Oke Ado

To the plains of Potiskun

Nkisi roars with pain

Ado N’Idu is inconsolable

 

The crimson cap

Carried on a royal cape

With beads of bronze

And twigs of valor

 

Peering into the future

Carrying the past

Curetting the present

Is the diviner’s feat

 

Though the garden

Bloomed once with promise

Blighted now with pestilence

The plough never paused

 

For in those veins

Pumped via valves

Flowed the sovereign blue

Polished with silvery hues

 

While others spoke

Words were made wise

Fitting of a sage

Flanging off aberrant fallacy

 

 

The flame tree

That illuminated

Without consuming

But cauterizing flippant fools

 

The imperious imposters

Impersonating jesters

Drumming thé dansant

Dregs of a desolate desert

 

Their…