Because I Am A Poet
Poet. Good noon m’lady.
Shade. Good afternoon sire.
Why do you always greet people in that confusing manner? Can you not be normal
by your greeting?
Poet. But my greeting is normal, is it not? Is the sun not on its highest shine? Is the noon not by mood good, with the entire smile that the sun glares with?
Poet. But my greeting is normal, is it not? Is the sun not on its highest shine? Is the noon not by mood good, with the entire smile that the sun glares with?
Shade. What are you talking
about? Hope you didn’t branch ‘madam fill up parlor’?
How can you tell the mood of
noon, it is the kwete beer that speaks not your head.
Come o I only asked why you
greet in that manner, instead of a straight answer all I get is more confusion.
Poet. Shade, now it is your
head that is pregnant with words not mine. I too here is bewildered about your
question so I put a query on your question, please why do I speak like that if
you will please tell it? It is not dark yet and I’m already far from
understanding in noonday’s brightness. When it is dark I’ll then wonder a lost
path.
Shade. My head is pregnant
with words? Please save the other mysteries of your words for your friends at
the pallor, the inn keeper should employ you to add to the alcohol in customers
head and make them stagger all the way home. Your words make the head drunk
with words.
Poet. But am I being punished
for my silence now? Did my unuttered words too sow confusion? Good heavens,
good morals.
Shade. It is good GOD not
good heavens and it is bad morals that should follow, the heaven is just an
empty space.
Poet. O is it, really? Is GOD
not an empty space?
Shade. Ehen you’re insulting
GOD abi? That Is blasphemy, and you very well know the consequences. GOD is
mighty and cannot be measured.
Poet. What talking are you on
and about? Please stable your words so one can choose the one you want by its
importance. GOD is mighty and cannot be measured? You have measured him already
by calling him mighty, do not turn around and tell that he’s immeasurable. Can
you measure an empty space or is an empty space not mighty?
Shade. Leave me alone, I’m
tired of listening to your lies. Why must you make something unclear only to
wait for someone to see it wrong, then you throw it as a mockery at their face?
Ehn why?
ENTER OLOWO
Olowo. Shade, what is it
again, why are you talking to him like that? I was beholding a bad weather I
didn’t know it was you furry that was drawing clouds to this corner.
Shade. Is it not ehm eehm
this man that um er ur
Poet. What did I do to you?
Olowo. Mr please let me talk
to her first. What did he do, did he make you dumb? Speak or I’ll leave now.
Shade. Yes, he made me dumb
from speaking the truth.
Poet. Shade, what!
Olowo. Mr Man waiti ah. Shade?
Haaaa! from speaking the truth ni? Well keep it oh what ever truth the both of
you are keeping will come to the market square to dance naked one day. Hehe! Dancing
truth is what I will personally name it, I will be there.
ENTERS SAMSON [Going to the market]
Poet. Good noon sire Samson
Samson. Goodafternoon MR Man.
Olowo, what is happening here? Why do you look troubled? And why is shade looking
at you as though you’re chasing her even though she’s not running?
Olowo. It is shade oh, I
found her here disputing facts with this man, when I asked her she couldn’t
tell me. I think the man has spelled her tongue not to speak.
Samson. What? Spelled her
tongue? But what ever it is, it must be important for him to still spell her
tongue from speaking, does she not know the truth even though she wants to
speak it? That’s when I will truly agree that she was spelled.
Poet. I did not spell her tongue;
she didn’t know what to say because she does not have any truth against any lie.
Olowo. Did you hear him
Samson? How can she be the one to gain form the truth and not speak it.
I know what I will do now, I
almost forgot that you’re my niece that I can choose to keep the rod and beat
information out of you.
Poet and Samson. It has not
gotten to that Olowo, take it easy.
Shade. Ah uncle I will talk
oh! I will talk please throw away the cain.
Olowo. I am listening, talk
oh lets not wait for grass to grow under our feet oh talk!
Poet. Shade, tell him what
happened and tell him the truth.
ENTERS NDUKA AND DENISE
Nduka. Olowo, Samson what is
happening here? Why is your niece crying?
Denise. Sam, what is it?
Olowo the son of a good man, great father of all, what is going on here? Sam,
why did you not answer Nduka?
Olowo. Denise, the wise man,
that is what we are about to find out from shade. Nduka, please good afternoon.
Please lets all pay attention
Shade, go ahead tell it.
ENTERS MRS DELE
Mrs Dele. Why have you all
gathered here? Shade, why is everybody circling you and that young man?
Olowo. Mama shade, thank GOD
you are here but em just hold on you will understand what is happening here, be
patient let shade talk to us please.
Shade. Was it not this man
that said my head is pregnant with words.
Mrs Dele. Shade, ah! You have
killed me. Look at this shame you bringing oh. Thank GOD your uncle is here to
bear me witness, if not how would I have explained it to your father? Ehn how?
Olowo and the others.
Heeeeeey! Pregnant? What? Who is the owner of the pregnancy? It must be him.
Poet. She’s not [before he
completed the next word]
Samson. Shut up my friend who
asked you to talk?
Poet. I am [receives slap
from olowo before he could finish]
Olowo. Next time it will be a punch, little brat.
Denise. Olowo, I think you
should take this matter to the king, let him handle it himself shade, is after
all his kin or what do you think?
Olowo. Denise, the wise! You
are right. I will take it to the king to handle.
TO BE CONTINUED.......
Thanks for reading....
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