Prayer To My Ancestors Poem by Tony Adah

Eyaa hoo?
Hoo!
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! !
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! ! !
What does the lion
Eat other than flesh?
May the gods
Grant fecundity
To our women
And wealth
To our men.
May the fields
Brim with bounties
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo!
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! !
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! ! !
Where does a man
Keep his strength
Other than in his spirit?
Those ancestors
Abode in the cave
Of the spirits
Come out in droves
And ward off
The ailments
Of this tired earth
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo!
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! !
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! ! !
How can
A slave be free
Other than seizing
His consent back
From his master?
Oyuishour Ayang,
Great grand father
Pick up your cudgel
Beside your grave
And emancipate your
Children from the
Clutches of tyranny.
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo!
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! !
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! ! !
How does
A greedy man die
Other than from the food
Of his life?
Adazeh Ador Ishama
My own father
You left only yesterday
The heritage you bequeathed
To your Children
Has been plundered
In fierce battles
For land graps
And primitive accumulation.
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo!
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! !
Eyaa hoo?
Hoo! ! !
What does a father
Expect of his Children
Other than greater advancement?
Great grand father
Grandfather
Father, I bet you
There's a road
Now leading home
A hospital beyond
The old market
Water gushing everywhere
From the donor agencies
Infact I will tell you more
When I see you.