Beautiful alteration
The Love of what I know
I felt the ‘owambe’
That is perhaps the only universal language we share
Yes! But how do I place ‘Swange’ by ‘Atilogwu’
How do I explain this unexplained?
Love is what you know.
If I describe the electrifying action of ‘genger’ and ‘asongu ashu’ over pounded yam
You may spat it for ‘Ofensala’ but how about ‘kyegh sha Shwa (KSS)’
Who told you I would cherish the fondness of “edikang ikong”
Or the lavishing effect of “pomo”, prawns and periwinkle
That garnish the sight, taste and varied veggies to savor?
I love the beauty of ‘anger’ but you do aso-oke
Or will you compare ‘ewedu’ to ‘Okoho’?
What happens to the sliming beauty of its strings?
Perhaps your chest and tongue can savor the ‘akpo-achegh’
And to the dogs you will this Benue delicacy on wikipedia
You cherish Isha-Agu to the world but simple black and white lines run my head
There lay a history and beauty the world adores
We are so beautiful, a great people
Those red and black stripes, blue, black and white are colours to beat
If I take ‘miyan-kukah’, I see ‘Gbodi ‘
So tell me about ‘Agidi’, ‘gbegiri’ and ‘ewa’, let me place ‘Gbache’, ‘igyande’ and ‘furum’ before you
For I am on top of the world when these are walking along pounded yam
I could only spare a thought about eba or fufu when the yam has one scare
What a world apart, all for what I know
So whether you look down on theirs, or mine I explore
Love is love of what you know
Of our noble nature lay a basket of unending uniqueness
These we share to the world like a beautiful meal
And each to the love they care
Umunede 26.8.2019
Sontyo Jimin (c) Learning everyday
