Oratory - Power of the Spoken Word

As words escaped constricted passage
of time from eons of layered myths,
legends of demi-gods thus linked,
in glowing rendition, with whisk on hand
the Orator with staff, sang the Eel to slumber.

As words from parched lips of orchids, flowed
dispersing sweet juices germinating dense spheres
of time in which history was packed in roots,
armed with psalms in measured cadences,
the Orator soothed kings and chiefs.

As words of our ancestors oiled and pampered
by prophesies of aging oracles, songs of lovers
and monotonous chants of old men...slithered
into hiding while physical wars waged, succinctly
the Orator proclaimed the heroic pursuits of warriors.

As words, precision in recitation of kinship ties 
craftily sewn by political machinations of unions
vital for survival of race waltzing in purity of blue
when blood flowed thru veins of aging rocks as
the Orator cemented pacts chanting tribal honorifics.

As words, imageries of sky bursting, moon phasing sunsets pertaining to legends of my village heroes,
sweet nectars that put rhythm in his art of tongues
inspired by fruits from my garden, mine own words
the Orator in action, was he infringing my copyright?

As words, our heritage orally passed down in poetry,
set imageries prohibiting meddling with sources,
set quotations where time absolved breaches of patent,
plagiarism, for traditions dictated that the word be
secured in a cocoon of oratory ferried down the ages
by the dynamics of cultural rites and rituals.

the Orator, blessed not only as the spiritual Vessel 
...but now deemed as the Spoken Word incarnate.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Kiser Avatar
June 11, 2014 at 8:46 AM
Now, that was a powerful poem!
Ioane Avatar
June 13, 2014 at 7:31 AM
Thanks dear friend for visiting especially taking time to read. This is hard to understand without traditional knowledge of Samoan culture hence poetry and oratory are important to us. Again your comments are very welcome. Alofas Tiaua
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