DEAD ANCESTORS

Hearken to my words
Ye little ones!
Give ears to my wisdom
Ye tender ones!
Run to the place I tell my stories!
Under the moonlight
Where there are no worries
And give heed
To the parables I tell you!

Oh applaud Einstein!
A man of great influence
To the philosophy of science
A man whose works
Shows significant advancement
A man who shunned criticism
So a famous equation might be conceived
One whose knowledge
Lives on till date...

Shout out to Ali!
A superman who preserved a life
With the strength of wisdom
A warrior adorned with gold medals
A man who proclaimed courageous wisdom;
"Float like a bird
Sting like a bee"...

Oh send your appraisal to Achebe!
Writer of acknowledgeable wisdom
One who sits to tell
The tales of men in blank pages
A modest man of culture
Intrigued about the traditional roots
A man who distained the imposition of customs
In the ways of Imperalism...

Scream at the utterance of Abacha!
A tyrant in full phase
One who gave ears to the walls
At the detriment
Of the peoples democratic opinions
One who cut the heads of those
That lifts it against him...

Oh raise your hands to Mandela!
A memorable hero of Africans
One who showed power
Is in the hands of the people
One who stared at the eyes of captivity
And walked majestically
To the throne of freedom...

Now hear the words of my mouth
Ye exhuberant youth!
Attend to my sayings
Ye pursuers of greatness!

One who listens
To the words of the wise
Becomes wise
Every man has an end
Dust have ye come
And dust shall ye return
No one lives forever...