The Supplications Of The Forebears To Ukpaka Oto Poem by Tony-Cemaluk Egbuonu

BEFORE the outing and the outcome of the five civil court helmsmen of justice simmer and cool off,
Behold the supplications of the supplicants, the forebears.

Ukpaka Oto deeje;
Ukpaka Oto deeme;
Ukpaka Oto daalụ;
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

At a distance, respectful to your shrine, are your children crouched, nude, famished.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

As oil bean tree, Ukpaka, your name root, by explosive mechanism you disperse to dispense justice.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

Ọgịnị, the spotted squirrel, withstands not without solving to stop the sorrowful sigh of her offsprings; That is you.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

Beyond your Ojoto abode, you went to the rescue of your dehumanized daughter.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

For her heart-renting cry, you exploded; desolating and populating a village. You left memento of Ukpaka trees, your symbol.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

You kowtowed an absconded foreign maiden to bring back your young son, just by sending to her an apparition of your sacred cow.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

Before you, they came not empty handed.
Before you they came with fat promises of fat he and she animals.
Before you they are supplicating with these supplications.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

Beautification, bountification, beatification.
Mollification, mortification, multiplication.
Posterity, prosperity, protection.
Visitation, vindication, verification.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ.

Crouched they came, upright they left.
Nude they came, garbed they left.
Famished they came, fulfilled they left.
Ukpaka Oto anyị arịịọ ma kelee.

Ukpaka Oto anyị ekele gị.
Ukpaka Oto deeje.
Ukpaka Oto deeme.
Ukpaka Oto daalụ.
Ukpaka Oto daalụ, daalụ, daalụ.