WHEN THE KING VISITS

When the King visits   Why do we carry away the destitute

From public places, only during the king’s visits

When they strain and litter the roads everyday

And we paint houses and sweep the streets To give a picture of a fool in paradise Should the king not see how we live?

We call in dancers for eyes to behold the spectacle

As women shake their bodies from spine to waist

To herald our chosen god’s representative With rehearsed dance steps in rhythmic flow They accompany their fierce-looking men

In war regalia to mock a battle encounter with the spirits

For the king has subdued all his enemies And sits on the throne of God on earth

Let me tell you, during the king’s last visit;

We used up our energies more than ever before

To the displeasure of our wives and kids As we spent heavily for his reception While the children stayed home from school Just because we could hardly pay the bills Each time the king comes to our region He adds to our sorrows a burden of debt

These cycle of wasteful visits, when will it end?