TEARS OF A GREAT KINGDOM

TEARS OF A GREAT KINGDOM

We were told and we believe it.

A great Iroko tree stood tall among other trees and shrubs in a mighty forest.

He danced and swayed with joy and happiness.

A great Iroko indeed, a friend to many.

Home is more homely when the father is with his children.

The great Iroko never left the forest for the shrubs.

Rich culture, rich people, rich kingdom.

The Iroko sprang up a shoot, joy spread in the air.

Many offspring but the first fruit for the synagogue.

Our tongues count our teeth.

Just a little while, a strange wind blew

No one could believe it but it was just true.

The great Iroko fell in the great forest.

Cold hands gripped every shrub and every tree.

The shoot was transplanted, just far away where pastures could be greener and where dews could touch the hearts.

Calm everywhere.

The forest was left porous.

Akuebishi the deadly tree grew tall, every tree around him was made to wither.

Every animal became cruel to the smaller animals and jungle justice reigned

The successor was far taken away to avert the bad wind.

After decades, the great forest was no more greenish and every trees and shrubs tormented.

No more tall trees to cover the forest.

Protocols observed, the transplanted Iroko was planted into the great habitat

Oh no, never used to trees within, never comfortable with the deadly Akwuebishi.

Many trees were uprooted, many animals went extinction just to save the forest.

The young Iroko grows taller, taller and stronger.

He’s an Iroko, he’s a Lion.

The lion in a strange forest, always thinking of the mountain where he knows better.

Willing to be the king of the jungle but never happy in the jungle.

The lion, yet at the mountain, brought forth a cub who may never know how the jungle looks like.

How about the trees?

Many are falling asunder.

Thunder storms, earthquakes, bush burning… oh the forest is fading away.

The Lion who is also the Iroko brought a sheep to the forest and strange animals came along .

Eyes have seen ears.

The sheep becomes a wolf, and the teeth are stronger than for chewing herbs.

More trouble for the jungle, more wailing for the kingdom.

We need not the sheep, we need not akwuebishi, we need not the strange animals in the forest.

Let the Lion feel at home in the forest. A brave and mighty lion who has no reason to fear the forest.

Let the Iroko stand tall in the great forest.

The great Kingdom is weeping somewhere.