DIVINE SLAVERY

      DIVINE SLAVERY



Suddenly the wind blew with anger

In the land of Zubiya

Fiery lightening, thunder

Booming, Zubiyans disarrayed

Zubiyans wailed

Nanny goat and fowls lying

On the ground, slain by lightening

Farmers’ farm ablazed

Potter pot razed

Every hut roof

Ripped off

Clay walls crumbled

Fleeing children tumbled

Tobacco pipes and calabash flied

Zubiyans ran helter - skelter

Out of broken shelters

All ran to the caves for refuge

Their only hope for salvage



Suddenly the thunderstorm ceased

Sudden calmness released

Frightful hearts heaved

Sighs of relief



Suddenly eyes spotted the priest

Coming towards the caves from his hut

Wondering what he would bring from Zuzuba

Hoping it was for the better

Hoping his message would sooth

The priest blew the sacred flute

Zubiyans led by the crown came closer

Then said the diviner



‘Oh children of Zubiya

Your divine messenger

The eyes of the god

The one whose mouth speaks the word

In the mind of Zuzuba wish to pronounce

A message; listen! As I announce

Zuzuba is furious!





An offender has aroused

The anger of the immortal

Spelling woe for the mortal’



‘Please do unfold

The ant that is so bold

To bite Zuzuba

Unleashing his anger’



‘King of Zubiya

Listen, a stranger

Plucked off a fruit

From Zuzuba’s tree in the Utak forest

His battered copse still lies in the forest

He ignited the unrest

That just befell Zuzuba

Now an impending doom from Zuzuba

Will emerge

Your lands Zuzuba will ravage

You all failed to teach your stranger

Your customs, now you have brought danger

To your lives

To your children and wives



‘Oh mouth of the god

Is there no leeway we can tread

To safety in this path

Now filled with thorns of death?’



‘Have age robbed the great king

Of his memory forgetting

That human sacrifice

Is the only means to appease?’



‘Who does the lot fall on?

Whose lamp was chosen to atone?’



‘The lamp for sacrifice

Lies in the royal house’









‘What? Ha, the tongue

Of the priest must be wrong

This time to have uttered

Such a blunder …’



‘Beware my king!

Lest you ring

The bell of blasphemy

Into the ears of our deity

I am Zuzuba’s eyes

Whose tongue never lies

The prince

Is the lamp for sacrifice’



‘Impossible! My prince?

Countless slaves

Live in lands of my dominion

Why seek my only son

When a substitute of a slave

Even more I can give?’



‘Zuzuba’s choice

Has no options’



‘Saved my heartbeat ceased

Never! Will I released

My prince

For sacrifice!’



‘Zuzuba you want to dare?

Hmm! I will go now, but be prepared!

To fight the rock

Whose consuming fury you dare to provoke

Seven days grace

Is giving to present Zuzuba’s choice

Failing! – you turn Zuzuba’s foe

Sealing your own woe’



‘It isn’t unfair to once disobeyed

A god that is always obeyed!’







In the morning of the next day

The survivor trees swayed

Gently their leaves

To the blowing of the refreshing breeze

Around the Zubiyan land

Yet unsoothing a bit the sorrow in the king’s mind

Sullen and sitting alone

Was the king on his throne

An aide came in and bowed low



‘My lord, royal eminence

Seek your audience’



The scepter was raised

Paving way for the sages

They entered and paid homage

Then spoke the leading sage



‘O king live forever

Is it wise for a fresh leper

To allow an infected finger

To infect other fingers

When he has a knife

That can cut it off?’



‘Is it sensible

To cut it off when the pain is unbearable?’



‘This pain can’t kill

Time is there to heal …’



‘Enough! Karunga, is it fair

To take the only heir

To the altar for sacrifice

On the ground of a perverted choice?’















‘My lord that is an immortal choice

That no mortal can reverse …’



‘My only son

Will never be killed by anyone!

Zuzuba has given me a bitter, big bone to chew                                                               

But that! I cannot chew!

I thought you all came to ease

My anger instead you came to increase …

Leave!’



In homage all bowed

To leave, but behold, the prince walked in and stood

Between the nobles and his father



‘Oh father and the nobles

Why give yourselves troubles?

Since the god has made a choice

That must be enforced

I will be the sacrificial lamp

To prevent Zubiya from being damned’



‘Suka …! What …! You lied

Have your mind

Been bewitched already by the priest

To walk in the path he wished?’



‘No, I am the chosen seed to be planted

For an impending doom to be averted

The fruit

From my seed alone will sooth

The wrath of the god

From unsheathing a devouring sword’



‘Stop that Suka!

I will never …!’



‘Father! I know I am alone

Your only male to the throne

But I wished to tread this path

To save every life in our inhabitant

Let the heir to the throne and scepter

Now rest on Lamira, my sister

Surely, Zuzuba will bestow on her

Wisdom of a sage, grandeur greater

Than any king in Africa

And blessed with the bravery of great Mushika’



Stream of tears

Logged in the monarch’s eyes

Came flowing down; nobles

Gripped with emotion shed tears



‘Son, your heroism Zubiyans will always tell

Because you are an incomparable jewel

In any generation

Willing to avert his peoples’ destruction

With his precious life

What a sacrifice of love’



Each other they embraced

Tears flowing down their faces

While speechless nobles

Bowed to the heroic prince



Prince Suka was sacrificed

The coming doom reversed