SITTING ON A TRIPOT

SITTING ON A TRIPOT The night, like any other, witnessedA convergence of community devoteesOn an annual pilgrimage of some sortIn praise of Allah, the MercifulRelics of religious wares displayedFor the pious faithful followersWe woke up as guests of the peopleTo catch a glimpse of a send-off
To the departing spirit a masquerade The dawn broke to revealedRaised long bamboo sticksPinned skyward to the groundLike a goal post for a soccerSpanning both sides of the tarOn a Minster road in OtaThree poles away, in betweenFrom a famous T-junctionWhere Anglican built a school Like a flag of a lost empireA mat and white cloth on a stringStained with blood and oilDotted in alternate parallel linesA lifeless cork hung danglingHead severed for a local godA sight to behold by passers-byThe lucidity of the willful forfeitureBuried in the hearts of the flock

— t. reflexion, Jun 25, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: NGA

Favorite Poets: Inspired by an article in an old manuscript , It reads:, AXIOMS OF PERFECTION, In the physical order – In the realization of the dream of beauty, In the moral order – In the realization of the dream of love, In the intellectual order – In the realization of dream of poetry, In the spiritual order – In the realization of the dream of the mystics

Critiques

anonymous1

15 years 11 months ago

Hi TR

Hello, I'd like to know the background for this poem. I don't feel qualified to offer 'raw truth' because I don't get what's going on. Thanks, Lisa

t. reflexion

15 years 11 months ago

Hi Lisa

Ota is a community in Ogun state, Nigeria. Unlike the nation, where two religions are official promoted, that is, Christianity and Islam, Traditional religion is very strong. These three religions compete seriously to protect their worshippers from being converted to the other. This particular night, while the moslems converged for a night prayers on anglican road, the christians were also praying in different churches. Traditional religion worshippers chose five roads to display spectacular sacrifices as portrayed in this piece, Anglican road was one of them. we only woke in the morning to catch a glimpse. Whether there were clashes of some sort, it is hard to tell. When asked what this ritual sacrifices were all about, we were told, a popular masquerade carrier passed on. I think, this was to appease the gods. I can't really say, but it was quite a sight. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you catch a glimpse. Best wishes. T.