Poem: SACRED MEAL

The blameless river goddess
Demanded a sacrifice
Of a sacred meal
To guarantee
Continuous flow of
Water
The precious fluid
To both man and beast

“A meal of meat she said”
“From an animal without bones”
Enthused the goddess’ messenger
“Not of lowly insects
“Nor from a watery kingdom
“An animal without bone, else
“She’s gone in seven days

The elders,
Chiefs and sages
Conspired
And offered to the goddess
A sacrifice of stillborn

Alas,
In seven days
She is gone!
River Nmirioma
And her goddess
Gone overnight, gone with the wind
The corpse of a stillborn
Is no animal without bone!