UNMASKED
Iwe ka anyi ji abia o
Iwe ka anyi ji abia o
Enekwe anwuola nu o

Iweee
Iweee
Iwe ka anyi ji abia o
Iwe

Iwe na onuma iwe
Iwe na onuma iwe

Iwe ka anyi ji abia o
Iwe ka anyi ji abia o
Ha si Esiaba esola ya

Iweee
Iweee
Iwe ka anyi ji abia o
Iwe

Iwe na onuma iwe
Iwe na onuma iwe

Like an arusi that heeds no command
From mortals, you strike about
Capriciously;
Forwards and backwards
At those who only strive to know you-

Stranger- visitor!

We thought you brave
And neared no grave
Afraid
Bones might rise
To hurt us who seek your name

Shameless thief!

You steal into households
With hands cold as steel and
Steal
Laughter and love
And still remain insatiate

Onwu wu onye ohi o
Onwu wu onye ohi o
O vuru o gbalagha

Coward warrior

All those years you hid your face
Making war upon mortals
Returning
Again and again
To fell your adversaries

`Soldier-hero'!

Tell us, why the body-guard of vultures
And siren-owls hooting announcements?
Clothed in coffins, graves …
You scare those who come to know your name.

Just the other day
Our hero danced to your drumming.
Enekwe danced backwards,
Homewards across the threshold-
A dignified dance, that … a dance of dignity

And yesterday,
Yes yesterday
Esiaba of the hot blood
Again fell to your wiles
Abandoning his word grenades

But today
In the frenzy of this funeral
We tear off masks
And without fear glimpse
The face of the spirit behind this mask

And we ask him
Gbo nwunoko, are you not one with us?
We now know your name.

The wind has blown and now
We have seen the rump of the fowl

Masquerade!
Now your mask is removed,
And your hand-shake no more as cold,
What new MOU shall we sign?

(Chidozie Chukwubuike, dozieobowu@yahoo.com , 08063591311)