New Yam

New Yam Death brings life New, tender and green Earth brown, immaculate white The priest heralds her coming The town crier drums it The farmer dances to the market It's time to celebrate Let loose the masquerades Celestial visitors from yonder Let the melody of the odó Echo the birth of the new yam Like the birth of a newborn The drums are rolled out The market is flooded With news of its coming The homestead salivates The streets jubilate Vegetables will bleed today The fattened cock will crow no more The slumber of the pestle is over For what is in the yam that the knife doesn't know The noise of pounding Will keep the neighbours awake Iyán funfun báláwú is on the menu today From: Echoes from the Savannah © Makinde Adebayo Adeniyi, 2024