THE NEW GODS

Yesterday…

Our fathers reverenced the ancestors’ altars

With lowered gazes of bowed heads

And with sobered hearts, they poured libations

To appease their fury gods.

 

Our elders cowered at graven images

Like timid dogs before dead foxes

And with chorused voices, they chanted incantations

To offer their cowries of pleas.

 

Our mothers took refuge in sacred shrines

Where strange fires of blind sacrifices

Were prepared with stale sticks of traditions

To break the shadowy arms of discomforts.

 

 

But today…

We defile the altars of our ancestors

With the fermented urines of our children

And we hurl the rituals of our fathers

To the wandering wind of oblivion.

 

 

We break the vows made by our mothers

At the navel of the village square

Where the piety kolanuts of fortune

Were revered by the molars of our elders.

 

The venerated relics of native oracles

Are fired into forgotten ashes

And we flaunt around as new gods

Who feed not with broken gourds.

 

 

Biography:

Ogedengbe Tolulope Impact is a chemical engineering graduate of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University  Ile-ife, Osun State. He started writing poems in 2012 and his works have appeared in various anthologies and literary websites.

Tolulope was one of the Wole Soyinka’s at 81 shortlisted poets, 2015 organised by the Poetry Court, and the 7th Korea Nigeria Poetry Fiesta, 2017 organised by Arojah Concepts. His poems won the 2016 maiden edition of Spring Literary contest, 2016 June edition of Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest (BPPC), and shortlisted poet for Poets in Nigeria poetry challenge.

Tolulope currently resides in Benin city where he writes and imparts children through teaching.