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DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES by Idowu Ebenezer Odeyemi

Day 62
#365daypoetryforadvocacyandsocialchangechallenge

Èlédùmárè!
I heard you are the uncaused cause
The preceptor of all cause?
The poor pray,
'yet the rich slay
And you answer prayers?

Baba Àlísä calls on Òrúnmílà for wisdom
Àdúnní the barren; calls on Yemòja
Baba sàdé is stroked; he calls on Erinlè
Ìyá Àsàké is antagonised; she calls on Sàngó
They hear nothing

The gods are not to blame
Human flesh they invade
Death pervades
Carcasses are left in dispute
those that have fame
Powers they portray
Though abruptly lame

Forfeit a God, a Satan
Forbid your gods and the goddess
Metaphysical elements hunted
Skeptical and daunted
ashamed,untrusted; so powerless

Our fathers indoctrinations are thrilling
They hold us(children) to tenacious beliefs
Deodorize us to jargons
Unseen elements enforced
Empirical facts unenforced

The missionaries are actions
Bàbálàwó is skeptical of revelations
For their gods are dead
They have no hand, even head,
And who say they live?

Pastor Àiná!,I won't believe your words
Baba Gbònká!, preach not your gods
for they are once human,
Now dead you should conceive
I, the living says
"Dead Men Tells No Tales"





Idowu Ebenezer ODEYEMI is a poet, essayist and writer of fiction. His poem - THIS AGONY MOTHER FEELS - was shortlisted for the NIGERIAN STUDENTS POETRY PRIZE 2018. Last year October, his poem titled "Dèbó" was published in the "World Book Of Poems" in India, making him the only African poet to appear in the 2017 series of the anthology among 22 others from 20 countries.

Comments

  1. Unknown4 July 2018 at 02:18

    Touching poem. Very spiritual. The energy is captivating. Keep up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Adaora1 August 2018 at 14:42

    Captivating indeed...

    ReplyDelete

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