Posted by Saint Vip on
AN ANCIENT IBANIMAN'S PRAYER TO THE GODS
...before sleeping!
Ikùba! Simigi! Owu-Ekpe! Tolofari! Opumigi!
Ye gods of my fathers!
Bare feet i stand on the soil
My ancestrial home not stained with palm oil
Sacred earth bear witnes to innocence pure like burnt fresh fragrance of scent leaf.
Holdin a calabash cup filled with kikai which can drunk my spirit but whet gods'appetite...
I pray by the click of morrow's dawn that my foes and i loose not our breath, while i journey in the land of nod.
I pray no evil cock should announce false dawn,
Faithful gods make them mute before they roost
...day break!
Ikùba! Simigi! Owu-Ekpe! Tolofari! Opumigi!
Ye gods bare feet i stand on this dew moist soil
Openin my hand in reverence, my sweat in form of oil
Faithful gods thank you for blessin the water in my aged water-pot with dews with which i now wash alway my nightly anxieties.
Bitter sweet chew stick in my mouth, georgette on waist
I carefully listen to the whisperin winds...
Eyes to the south no sorrow
Eyes to the north no sorrow
Eyes to the east no sorrow
Eyes to the west no sorrow
Then i sacrifice a virgin hen to you gods
I pray soles of our feet not to dig earth as we strive to justify our daily bread
And i prithee ye gods of my gods to wear us d everlastin cloak of patience so we can wait at your merciful stream of innocence
For the king fish 2 enter our net .
So our pot and stomach will not be in neglet
For our ancestors said a patient man has victored death!