OLUỌRAN[i] - BY OLANIYI ABDULWAHEED


Tell town crier of the day and cock to crow at dawn
There is in my room Mushroom
The one which witch wishes,
Much there is in Mushroom

Who says you are not much in pot?
Tell them there is much,
To those that do not know this world, even
If thousands cannot full their will
Tell you are the source for sauce
Swelling husband’s head
To swallow mounts of yam; pounded

For those who know not
Tell you are the ingredient
Of wife in her spouse’s house
No sauce without you
Mushroom more source
Source for sauce,
A woman without happiness
When much is not in the room

Who says you are not holy?
Tell them your cloth is white
Tell them you are a saint
Purely you appear to your beggars’ wishes.
Not you, they only taint themselves
With their haste, just to taste,
Even thousands of your legions can’t
Quench the thirst of their greed,
Say you do not unholy

Who says you are short?
Tell them
You are the compass
That architect thrill;
Your taste is taller
Than others on the tongue
Much there is in Mushroom!


In our homeland
Mushroom is more holy
Sacred than priests
Much there is in Mushroom

You swell the men’s head
Shrink the stream of women’s emotions
A man is he who knows your names
A woman is she who sees, you,
Tagged with a man
A man with little dime in pouch
Is the one without mushroom.










[i] It is a type of Mushroom often found in South-West Nigeria, very short and white in color; hundred of it is not enough yet often demanded. It is used as a metaphor for greed. 

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