Poem: My Name is Boko


My name is Boko

Son of the Earth

Great grandson of Nabwalega

Born under a village hut

Using herbs from the forest

In the ways of my ancestors

 
Rain drummed against the earth

And the wind whispered welcome

Nature embraced me warmly

Trapped between heaven and hell

Meandering through the jungle

I followed my ancestors’ spirits

Spells and chants were imparted

Waded through the twilight grove

And drank from the spirits well

I ate fruits of knowledge

Each fruit sweeter

Than the one before

I gathered the pearls

On Digalagala Island

Filled my mind with its wisdom

To save my people’s ailments

 

Recalling my ancestors words

I returned to my birth place

My people no respect

For our land and sea

I wept, the pain

Reverberating in my heart

While my soul floated

Above the ocean

The earth beneath

My feet quaked

Thunder roared

And lightning clashed

The spirits were not happy

 

I summoned the spirits

To relieve the maladies

And make the yams grow

I stopped the rain

And calmed the storm

I invoked healing

Supernatural powers


My name is Boko

Son of the Earth

Great grandson of Nabwalega

In the spirits voice I call

I am the envoy

To link two worlds

 

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