I Saw Them

 

I saw them

When they came to look for children

They’d turn to a man who lives next door for solutions to childbearing.

My teenage eyes peeped at them killing the fowl which I later confirmed was sacrifice for children.

I saw him

I saw him blow white substance in the air

They had a masquerade party and the clouds were forming.

The clouds looked really angry

So angry they didn’t seem to smell the powder one time and rain scattered the party.

I saw them

I saw them come collect rings and concoctions to make them rich.

None of them asked why he lived in a one room Face-Me-I-Face-You, I’m sure.

I saw them

After church service, we’d rush home to eat and excuse them so they’d change and perform for the masquerade party.

I saw them flog “reluctant givers”

I saw them return to our compound and transform to humans who wear human clothing.

I saw her

Every morning

She’d kneel at the grave by our window, speaking softly to the bones buried beneath.

Sometimes he’d join her

Together, they would whisper, tend and feed bean cakes to this god buried six feet beneath the earth.

Then they’d forbid us from removing or disturbing “it”

I saw him with his admirers

His traditional attire was a magnet, power, I’d guess

The white garment tied around his waist

Beads around his ankles and arms

I’d wonder why he lived alone then I’d remember his shrine

His gods must need his mouthpiece close to communicate and make money off gullible people

Unlike The Powerful One above who created EVERYTHING and speaks for Himself.