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IFEGI-OKU (WEEK 37) - "One, Two, Three and Four" Part 4 of 4 |
WEEK 37: ONE, TWO, THREE and FOUR, Part 4 of 4
The woman rises shakily, fighting confusion
Then pushes Obi back rather then surrender
He lands her a blow, breaking her nose
Which delivers her unconscious to the engulfing dark
A deadly hush greets Obi at his door
Number Four in the hands of Wife Number Four
A steady stream of tears runs down her face
Her eyes warn him the boy is barely there
"But not yet lost," Obi's eyes says back
He takes the boy from his wife's trembling hands
Cradling him gently, Obi kneels carefully
His Supreme and the midwives kneel down as well
Out in the yard, a quiet too descends
As the neighbors and all kneel down too
In Number Four's old hut, Ifegi-oku kneels
Along with her brothers who kneel down as well
"Why do we kneel?" asks Tiger's Heart
Sleepy still for having been awakened
By all the commotion from his parents' house
"To pray for our brother," Ifegi-oku says
"Is he dead then?" whispers Scorpion
Not waiting for an answer, he bursts into tears
Causing This Child is King to do the same
Tiger's Heart wails, not a tiger at all
Ifegi-oku clasps and hugs each in turn
"Take heart, dear ones, and hush your tears.
The fight's not done if there's breath to take.
Let's ask The Gods to spare little brother."
They clasp hands tightly, then lower their heads
While Obi in his hut, lowers his as well
To stare at his son who favors his beloved
"Onwu-na!" Obi shouts – "Death Be Gone!"
The name is sharp, startling the child
Who opens his eyes and stares at his father
Then bursts into gurgles, coos of delight
And snatches Obi's finger thrust in his face
A collective sigh from within and without
Wife Number Four quickly scoops up the boy
Shoves a milk-filled breast into his mouth
Her tears of joy dropping on his little head |
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