( for Peter Rufai ,who waved at 61)
By Ezekiel Fajenyo
Dodo Mayana!
I knew you as a restless,flying bird
sticking signposts at goalposts with stopping banners.
I knew you, Rufai,
as much as nightly owl- voiced wizards
brandishing skills attacking foes could not skip.
I knew you,spoiling violent antics of vengeful,raging
teams against the Eagles, our Eagles
in moments of torrents of fearsome energy
across the world,
drenching other teams
with endless,fruitless sweats.
You swallowed their dreams,
crushed flags of prideful plumes
slashed their planned,pompous cakes with a surgeon’s knife in a thousand fields
of play ,leading them to suicidal cravings.
Perhaps ,soccer- spurred angels also Play
seasons’ matches
and hope for schooled hands like yours.
Time will tell
when our own bell
rings,luring us as spectators to Okigbo’ s
heaven’sgate!
