BAPTIZE HIM NOT

BAPTIZE HIM NOT   To baptize we were asked to learn The catechism by heart and words of creed Words born out of understanding the law Graded in stages of one, two and three   We passed from a Monday class to the next Tuesday graduated to a mature Wednesday The holy book was read in native tongue Difficult it was, I panicked all the time   Reading a verse each, I counted my turn Rehearsed to flow if none missed the twirl So it was my roll to read verse twelve, then Steeped in nervousness, I said, ‘twelve verse’   The laughter that followed made me stupid But I offended no one nor sinned against God Baptism exams date fixed for a Saturday Superintendent Examiner asked my name   Who is your father and where is he The civil war had him behind enemy line So I wasn’t asked anything relevant at all Not even my knowledge of the catechism   When names of those qualified to be reborn In holy flowing river of baptismal bliss Was pasted in this particular House of God Men had sat in council to remove my name   My cousins celebrated a landmark of faith So swathed in sadness, the years tagged along There, conspiracy unearthed a fowl, which was Not to upset a staunch apostolic deacon dad   My aunty told the superintendent man of God That my father won’t take it kindly with her When and if he ever returned to see his only son Initiated into the basilica of other beliefs   You see, men took decision for God that day In a sanctuary wrongly labelled in vernacular God’s house became a house full of men of means Where they decided the fate of the weak and young