Only the stubborn fly goes to the grave with the corpse
Only the inquisitive monkey becomes the meat of the hunter’s pot
The dance of the blind is to the left when others dance to the right
The sound of music is for all ears
But not all kinds of waist get the rythm
Nor feet the movement
The eyes is as the legs and the legs as the waist
He who must take the shekesheke* must first have eyes
I do not know my enemies is without eyes
And she has taken the shekesheke*
She proceeds to the square with no guide at hand
She has decided to dance
Yes she must dance today with the spirits who call themselves our fathers
I do not know my enemies has taken the shekesheke*
And she proceeds to the dance floor
Owner of no eyes says today she must dance
Yes she must dance before the people
Today they must see her
They must know that there is one so blessed by the gods
I do not know my enemies has taken the shekesheke*
She has gone to the square to dance with the elders
Owner of no eyes today must dance
Yes she must dance before her people
I do not know my enemies has taken the shekesheke*
She has gone to the square to dance with masquerades
Owner of no eyes fears no one she can not see
The music is nothing to her ears
And she does not fear the scent of dust or sweat
He who must eat must first labour
I do not know my enemies has wooed the crowd
They cheer for her that has no eyes
She is a dancer a better one at that
One truely blessed by the gods
Her beads clap against her waist
As she wines to the left and to the right
Owner of no eyes is a good dancer
The music has gotten into her head
And those that envy her have stripped her of her skirt
But I do not know my enemies does not know
Owner of no eyes does not know
Foot note: *shekeshe, is an African musical instrument; a calabash with beads strung around it.
Carolyn banks Ose is a fiction writer and a poet. She is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.