SICKLE CELL

Spirits of the unborn wander
Homeless children as we were told
Their mission, to wreck families
By being born into this planet

They die unexpectedly young
The grieved mothers pleaded in turn
That the youngster should stay and share
The twilight meal with the living

You come with many infant faces
Asking for the impossible
Then hide behind the squeaking door
Mocking us with boastful vengeance

Abiku, Esion-emana or ogbanje
We know, by the marks on your back
Which we placed when you first came here
And left swiftly without notice

Take the goat’s head, we beg of you
We spill the blood for you to drink
But leave my only child alone
He said, he likes it here a lot

Wind blows off your spiritual veil
I see your formless face, peeping
Revealing your deceitful eyes
Go away, seek playmates elsewhere

Ah! I know you, not by the marks
Not what we believed you to be
You are a disease of the blood
Sickle cell anaemia, endorsing death

NOTE:
‘Abiku, Esion-emana or ogbanje’ are some of the local names given to represent the spirit that kills a patient suffering from the syndrome which medical science points out to be Sickle cell anemia.