CURE FOR FORGETFULNESS (A NARRATIVE POEM)

#pastorbiodunsoretire

The story goes of a forgetful man 

Looking for cure  for a forgetful mind 

At last he hears of a strong medicine man

Recommended to him by many mouths 

He travels seven forests and seven seas 

Till he comes to a lonely forest 

The abode of the renowned witchdoctor 

The sought-for gives the seeker 

A fetish like goblin’s gourd 

Plugged in the mouth with cuckoo’s quills 

The seeker to spread the content 

Like condiment on his comestibles 

Having given a praise-bath 

And a shower of thanks to the forest wizard 

His nose leads the way home 

His feet follow excitedly 

After hundreds of footsteps of his 

Long enough to recognize them on the crackling leaves 

He hears some fast footfalls behind 

And close to the speed of light he turns around 

He is faced with a familiar figure 

Almost catching up with him 

Baba regains his strength 

After panting for what seems like ages 

And these words come out of his mouth 

‘My son, I’m sorry It escaped my mind to tell you

That the gourd must not sit on the ground’ 

The addressed son opened his mouth, no energy to close 

‘This is meant to cure forgetfulness,’ he thought aloud 

But here is the giver falling prey to forgetfulness

So everyone forgets after all!’ 

Man’s petition to God should ever be: 

May I not forget what I should remember 

Nor remember what I should forget 

And God’s admonition to man has always been: 

Forget your past and forge ahead 

But remember your future and plan ahead