Ode to Atiba Queen (For ‘Sunkami Maryam Salaam )

• Olasunkami Maryam

*

Bird of dazzling feathers;

Isn’t through your cleavage the river of

Life flows like Nile and Mississippi

Blessed mistress of beauty,

Powerful indigo distinct among dyes

Isn’t the taste of your succulent lips

The dawn of rebirth miracle

I have seen it all, mistress

All the secrets set atop

The castle of your goddess eyes

Who then says you’re not phenomenal;

That your name not wonder spanning

Through the breath of all ages?

**

From Ebedi hill I traversed thousand miles

Searching for the songs of your tribe

I wandered through the melody lane

Looking for colorful tones of tribute

Befitting the pride of your lineage’s legacy

Wide into the wild world

Until I got to Atiba land 

Where the deep voice of gourd, and

Strident voice of gong wake the monarch

Into the blissful smile of dawn.

With your name glued to my lips

I carried the drum around telling your tales

To the curious ears of the bystanders.  

    

***

AYINKE

You the sun standing on the minaret

Feasting on the kowtow of gallant mortals

One gold-made bracelet above

Thousand necklaces in the fist of blacksmith

Nightingale in the gathering of birds

Beautiful queen of Kalahari, star

Soaring in the galaxy of stars.

You’re the glory of full moon

Sowed beyond the mischievous touch of evil men

Moon I say, bright as thousands

Of sheen star in the blue sky.

The eyelids of your eye- arrays of magic

Your gallant strides- assembly of amorous letters,

Soft skin craving for touch,

Calling for the worship of men.

****

Ignorant men do not blow the horn

Of elephant for kings. It’s griots, men

Of armpit made of folklores and history

And if I stand on this threshold as your knight

Reading the lines spread through your winsome face

Do not see me as itinerant bard singing songs of cowries

I hold the pledge of my song for people

Of noble source. People like you,

Fulcrum setting world on moving path.