Mournful Celebration by Ayomide Joe

What are we about to do? You ask We are going To have a burial See the pots Warming Can you see the spoons? Revelling, they are The clothes are going round Thank God, my Iya Titi Is not fat Who is that person crying? Oh it is the onion She is slicing How the knives glisten At cut throat radiances This is another Jos? You think Don’t worry The victims here Can’t fight back The cows can’t Begrudge us this It is a rite Even if we have to borrow They just must die Who cares for a dirge? Take away the bean cakes Mourning will soon be over And the singers Will croon joyful tunes As the pestles pound Dancing rhythms Come join us Rice and stew very plenty The dead is gone The living must Keep going