Yoruba Holy Communion

Young as just a week, He was wrapped in a flannel. His tender feet were shoeless - Today was his appointed time; His feet must dialogue with gods. The frontage was kind To the pews and table. The priest stood before the gods, His grey hairs vouched for his age. He opened the dishes one by each And accredited their celestial contents. Then he lifted the dish of water And splashed the water on the ground - The gods must drink before the man- He filled the baby's mouth with drops: Today you have quenched the gods' thirst, May the gods reward you with comfort. Drink the water of life and live. ....and the people said,'' aseee''* He stepped the baby's feet on the ground Where exactly he poured the water: You have poured cold water on your path, Step on every soil unburned, walk in the coolness of gods. ... aseee Then the next and the next : A bit of fish, a bit of rat; These are what we eat to grow, Today I fill your mouth with them, Eat and grow in life. ...aseee. ... And the next three: Salt, honey and sugar - The sweeteners of life border no bitterness; The gods feed you with sweeteners today, Dwell in the sweetness of life. ....aseee. And alligator pepper; He dropped some seeds on the ground And put a seed in the baby's mouth: The day alligator pepper built its house, It filled it with seeds;go with its potency And fill your house with fruit of womb. ....aseee. Then the red-oil - He poured some on the ground And fed the baby with drops: Oil is the antidote to the hotness of pepper, I cover you today with its potency; Go and triumph upon every challenge. ...aseee. Go and triumph upon every challenge, Fill your house with fruit of womb, Dwell in the sweetness of life, Eat and grow in life, Walk in the coolness of gods, Drink the water of life and live. Aseee. aseee* means 'so be it''