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IFEGI-OKU (WEEK 42) - "The Northern Lands" Part 2 of 3 |
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WEEK 42, THE NORTHERN LANDS, Part 2 of 3
A regal woman who glistens with oil
Adorned all over with precious jewels
Surrounding her the clan's Cherished Ones
One thousand twelve – and that's all
These few precious women were all they had
To bear their children, dispense wise words
Organize the economy, maintain the laws
Keep all that is dear moving along
The Griots weave into their history's songs
That long ago, the North angered God
As for the wound, none could recall
Whatever it was, it was deep indeed
God punished them by sewing up wombs
Sewing them up to the birth of girls
For every 999 males that are born
The next one just might be a she
So, they fight epic wars around their women
The clans stealing them from one another
That strategy proved quite ridiculous
The very women were often impaled
In time they began to look to the South
Their bitterest enemies since dawn of time
But desperation blurred old border lines
Made passions forget deep offenses
Should you ask about this change of heart
They will say, "What choice are we left?
Many sacrifices have we engineered.
But none has moved God's heart of stone.
"Our women are fertile, this is true.
But they usher only sons between their legs.
Our ranks will cease if women are not got.
A people cannot dwindle, they must live!
"We are sympathetic, don't get us wrong.
Taking from only where there's surplus.
And always, always a new-born she.
N'er one grown and attached to the South."
Let us now return to the tale at hand
For Earth Revered is about to speak:
"Nndi-Ike! Men of Strength! Welcome!
But pray, where is the Heart of Your Party?"
(to be continued)
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