Igede The Spirit Dance Poem by Emmanuel Joseph Olumakiss

Dance not my child!
The heartbeat of Igede drum
For It is far from your perceived joy
Dance not to the elevation of its sound
Its resounding voice only breeds menace
Why not wait until the drumming fade?
So you could see the danger of its taste
With the hand slapping of the drum
A grievous signal is drawn
Tubam! Tubam! Tubam!
A ceremonial call of massacre
Hailing the victims of stillbirth
Dance not my child!
Igede the spirit dance
With its resounding voice
of a temporal victory
coupled with allies of harmony
pampering the tragedy of future woes
When trial is called does it not hunts the victim and neighborhood?
Dance not my child!
Igede the warfare song
A drum soaked with blood of our kin
Better hold your life stiff
And in wisdom be keen
For Igede parades with vengeance
visiting the deeds of the fathers
To the children even the ones yet unborn
Caution my child!
Be patient so you don't bow to the vocal tone
Nor draw disaster near our post
Let your ear first do the dancing
And if possible let your leg flee
In pursuit of a long life
For here lies the end of numerous dreams
And as many ve been burnt
Dance not my child!
The dance of the spirit force
Dance not to the whims and caprice
of the political overlords
Dance not to Igede the spirit dance
It is your future you ve been made to exchange
Eating your tomorrow today
Forgotten the plight in each gain.