Official Takeover Poem by *Tony Cemaluk Egbuonu

It cannot close.
The funeral cannot close
Without this.

At six,
I had to.

In one breath-taking moment
I went inside
to dress up
in late Chief EzeMalukwuo Nwoye Egbuonu's
full regalia.

At six, it could not fit.
So I came out
and the regalia came out with me —
followed regally
by one grand uncle.

The insignia of authority.
The handover.
The takeover.

Chief EzeMalukwuo rented the air.

And I performed
Igbafe Ngwulu.
I danced round the compound.
I took over.

Because a King
does not die.
A King only sleeps
and wakes up
in a new body.