A Treasure He Wants To Acquire Poem by Obed Akuma

The back of a lonely man among the flowery adorned garden moves here and there
Raising a jembe and a panga in turns, now a panga, now a jembe
A bee moves and makes designated stops on the brightly colored petal flowers
A tree sways to and fro, pumping oxygen to the atmosphere
A calf breastfeeds from a cow that is gracing graciously in the green field
And thus the man tilled the land all alone
And thus all creation carried its responsibilities
And then the Father bestowed a help meet for the lonely man
Then the man fulfilled the purpose of his life
And thus the animals and all created things fulfill their purpose in this life

We gather here not to give money though money is of necessity
We gather here not to eat though food is a basic need
We gather here not to be seen though we all know each other
We gather here friends to support our friend turn a leave in his life-
Just like the whole universe supported the union of Adam and Eve
Gathered are we all to give our friend moral and spiritual support
Gathered are we all to support a friend to unite with his friend, his pearl
His pearl of a lady, the crown of his life

For some years he has walked alone
And toiled again and again alone
But all along a desire has been burning in him
A desire to commit his work and life to someone,
Someone to listen to
Someone to talk with
And someone to support the desires and dreams of his life and of her life
And someone who will bring the best out of his life and her life
We honor God for fulfilling this desire in him

A treasure he has been, a treasure he is, to those around him
Filling the air with laughter brightening the faces of his friends
Fitly speaking a word that paints apples of sliver on pictures of gold
Others he has supported for them to pair
Others he has helped for them to unite
Your help he seeks
His turn this is to be helped
Our turn this is to help
Lets us roll our sleeves, gifts to give
Him to help

A treasure he wants to acquire
A pearl of a lady, a crown of his life
A treasure he brings to our society-
A precious gift to his society
His purpose for this life to fulfill

From the bachelors’ club that he is leaving we wish him well
To the married club that he is joining we wish they welcome him with warm hands
As he sails through the tide-filled sea of life
As he presides over the priestly office in his would-be family
May all the abundant grace from Him who is Father of all the universal family
Be sufficient in every moment in the pair’s would-be family
Amen