a strong strong dance

1.         each coronation song

hailed another moses

yet none was christened so

each tune then ended

before the dance began

the coming waves responded

with their many many tunes

and hence

                        a strong strong dance

                        which no one else could do

let us catch the dancer’s feet

with a new new tune

from the busy crowd

and call him by his name

or sing not

2.         each toastmaster took the crown

            to echo another clown

            courting frowns after the rounds

            each crown developed spikes

            on the inside and on the outside

            and the ruler lay straight

            like a snake among the people

            and so

                        a pastime on the canoe

                        which only one could paddle

           

            let us count each leader’s words

            like seeds from a water melon

            so visible yet not so dark

            planted on a hillside

                        or list not

3.         the space of elasticity

            has been time for harvesting

            yet none was named a farmer

            the harvest has been for one

            not even for the fambul

            the banks abroad grew bigger

            as those at home grew smaller

            and then

                        the farce of an economy

                        in a world of sombre economies

            let us nurse this leader’s words

            on this fertile fertile ground

            of land reclaimed from sea

            and give them back their words

                        or farm not