CALL OF THE TALKING DRUM
I heard my name called this morning
by Dundun
struck trembling drum skin voice
transposed deeds in rhythmic verses
showering kindred praises
spoken words by a musical instrument
from the Oriki -
Omo aji lala oso
Omo afi gbogbo ojumo dara
bi egbin
Owu ogoji Mesun
Owo ogoji Papo
To mu da
fun aja
To mu da
fun eran
Gogoowu ni of ' owu re da
The child that dreams of ornaments
The child that looks beautiful everyday
like a gazelle
Forty threads are for Mesun
Forty threads are for Papo
That were used to make clothes
for the dog
That were used to make clothes
for the animal
Gogoowu is what you'll use
your threads to make
Extracted gathered dug words
from the ancestral labyrinth
rendered eloquently on drum
intracted my skin with goosebumps
Poetic rhythmic verses pitched
swung time pendulum jangling
from firm foundation now bridges
like life to umblical cord
Musical beats percussed to a tune
sprung soul gateway opening
nourishes kindred words
from oral history literary pages