Oh My People Hear.

Oh my people hear,

I heard the Nile has gone dry.

For the messenger sent to check,

Brought back only pebbles and sand,

How did it happen?

No one knows,

Except for the birds

Who reside at the tree top,

Saying they saw our leaders

Sipping in large quantities.

Oh my people hear,

I heard the talking drum has lost its voice,

In the words of the drummer,

All it does now is echo.

How did it happen?

No one knows,

Except for the hands that plays it,

Saying they saw our leaders

Stealing it’s voice.

Oh my people hear,

I heard the town crier has gone missing,

For the people are stretching their ears for days now to hear his cries,

But to no avail,

 how did it happen?

No one knows,

Except for the gong he beats,

Saying our leaders sent him to a journey of no return.

Oh my people hear,

I heard that the one that hears the plants when they speak,

Has gone deaf,

Even his own voice,

He no long hears.

how did It happen?

No one knows,

Except for two gossiping leaves,

Saying they saw our leaders

Poking his ears with lies.

Oh my people hear,

I heard the wise Oldman who sits by the corner of the village square has died,

They say he died out of ignorance.

How did It happen?

No one knows,

Except for his words

Saying they saw our leaders

Feasting on his brains.

Oh my people hear,

I heard the fisherman has become scared of the rivers,

And has even made a vow

To die of thirst,

What happened?

No one knows,

Except for the fishes

Saying they saw our leaders

Drown his family.

Oh my people hear,

I heard the king's crown has gone missing,

And his head is now available for exhibition.

How did it happen?

No one knows,

Except for his guards

Saying they saw our leaders

Selling his throne to the men from the west.

Oh my people hear,

I heard Ekpa the village drunk now prophesies,

And even the kings are taking his orders,

How did it happen?

No one knows,

Except for the empty kegs of palmwine

Saying they saw our leaders

Dining in his house.

Oh my people hear,

I heard mount kilimanjaro has grown short,

For the messenger sent check,

Said he couldn't even spot it from ten feet away,

How did it happen?

No one knows,

Except for the birds of the sky,

Saying they saw our leaders

For days standing on it.

© Warrence Oghenevwegba.