CHRONICLES OF DEATH UNFURLED (ARTICLE SERIES ALSA NG JUNE NEWSFILE)

 CHRONICLES OF DEATH UNFURLED

Composed and written by: P.C Nwankwo¹

Grumbling gun to the air

A long line of heroes I would never hear smile

The cold silence of the sun drawing as we bid farewell

The pompous grave beside his Grandfather's hut

welcomes him with a disdain smile

The sleeping bottles of palm wine

The noise from his funeral slowly dwindles

Every man draws his feet and bid farewell

with wide eyes, shaky heads and folded hands but no one dares question their maker

Now the actual mourners gather up in silence

His spirit roams free while we wonder,

Is the work of the dead on cruel earth really done?

I watched motionless as he whispered his Interesting ordeals to me

Now I implore your ears,

Born peasant, his wealth was the love he embodied

Shout out to the days he walked on all fours

suckled the tender bosoms of his mother right after chewing warm sand

From the cries of an infant to an accomplished life

I hear his laughter in memories so precious

All hail the days he came back from kicking the dancing ball

with deep wounds on his knee, tears in his eyes but he wears a grin

shout out to the days he sat at his mother's foot

she told tales of the tortoise while he swallowed his warm supper

Adulthood brought a tale of his life with dance steps so bold he left his mark

A brilliant mind with a hopeful heart

No material wealth but a heart so rich

But then came the chains of infirmity

his bright eyes so dim I could hear his sad spirit

his people gathered round with tears in their eyes

Can the gods of the earth hear their persistent plea for mercy?

Or are their huge ears sealed shut because his fathers have summoned him?

His laughter still echoes while he whispers these to anyone with an open ear

A peasant's life journey with a heart that thrived

His joy was a treasure he guarded jealously till his grave

May my listeners be at peace with their mind and souls for the cold hand of death is oblivious to

the kind it fondles with

Now his life's journey has reached its final end

As he will be reunited with those who have gone before us

More love and joy embraces him at the shimmering afterlife

his legacy I choose to tell

May his should find rest in the after life

For he is me and I am him

ED

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¹  Nwankwo Precious Chidera, the author, is a 300 level stellar law student in the Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.