ARE THE GODS DEAF?

I have offered at the altar,
Three pieces of kola nut,
Two gourds of palm wine and water-
To quench the thirst of the gods.
Still the gods will not eat or drink.
Was my sacrifice too small?

The old priest-
Ordered I made a feast.
For whom…?
But to the gods of doom-
To make the harvest boom.
Two bales of white clothes,
And ten wads of hundred naira notes.
I wonder if the gods spend money!

“Why not bring a hunched back cow
And an hunched back fowl-
To appease the hunched back gods?”
Asked the hunched back priest.

May be they would talk now,
And heed to the distance cry-
Of babes still to witness a momentary crawl.
The cow was slaughtered-
Staring at us and the carved broom gods pitifully.
Will you kill to get peace’s pill?
But the deed was done!

When will peace journey to our land-
To scold and scrub this pains from our heart,
Now that it seems the gods are asleep,
Are they really worth the praise?

Gin for the gods, beer for the priest
Rattling of gun in the distance-
Restlessness lurks in the dark.
Wailing and gnashing of teeth-
The shrine stood the gods a splendid feast.
Let them address our pains-
If the gods are not deaf.