Sacred Dance Poem by Kojo Owusu

Go to the sacred groove
Of the unknown and bring
The ancient drums
Along with sticks.

Don’t let the fetish
Priest hideout,
Smear him with
White powder
Give him his imperious
Majestic flywhisk

Today we shall dance
Throb and pulsate.
We shall shake our bodies
To the intoxicating rhythms
Of the past.

But have you summon
The genial folks?
Have you inform
The old and the young?

Help me my grandchild
Carry this antique stool
To the frantic arena.
I am going to infuriate
My tired bones.
Old age is a deadly disease
But inevitable.

Look grandfather
My brother perceive
The young charming girls
Heaving their breasts
And shaking their buttocks.
They are my age group
Dancing the dance
Of love and pouring
Love charms into my eyes
And blinding me completely.

Do you want to wait
And see the fetish priest
Perform or you will depart?
I will wait
I want to see the fetish priest
Dance the old dance
Of his ancestors.

The fetish priest
Will reenact
A war dance
Turning to a legend
He will be helped by dwarfs.

Executioners, bring me my
Powerful pot of charm
I will water gaze
The gods will appoint
A person for the sacrifice.

Are you running away?
Are you fleeing?
Run for dear life
Wait for me
This is barbaric
Primitive
Uncivilized
Backward.