Bad Poetry

Akwakok's Cosmic Song

This chant is to be read rythmically, to the imagined sound of Native drums.

*****

Ah Hey, ya, hey, ya, hey, ya, ya

Ah hey, ya, ya, ya, ya

When Akwakok did close his eyes

to pass from earthly things hey ya

quite naturally ascended he

to stand beside the kings hey ya

For in this life his honor flowed

like manna from the sun hey ya

to be within his gentle gaze

was fear and scorn undone.

Ah, hey, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya

Ah hey, ya, ya, ya, ya

Old Akwakok did glance about

said, "Spirit, Heaven Is!" ah hey

my body's gone, I feel no pain

no eyes, no hair, no feet, no brain!

no effort, weight, no legs, no cane

I see that here there's Bliss, ah hey

Ah hey, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya

Ah hey, ya, ya, ya, ya

Then from the misty fog ahead

a figure, dressed in blue ah hey

laughed hard though Akwakok could see

no head, no mouth, it's true ah hey

Laughed he, the spirit, "Okonkwo, you've changed you seem so sane hey ya

we thought you were down there deranged

you whacked that boy upside the head

then hung yourself till you were dead.

Ah hey, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya

Ah hey, ya, ya, ya, ya

Old Akwakok stood much confused

who was this deep blue thing?

who called him by another name

who called him ding-a-ling!

One thinks you may be wrong my friend

they call me Akwakok hey ya

in Inuit it means "the wind"

to me the Men did flock hey ya

Ah hey ah hey ah hey ya ya

ah hey ya ya ya ya

Then Spirit searched the Book right there

'cause there a book appeared

from nowhere, huge and filled with names

written in gold, aglow with flames

of red, blue, yellow, and bright green

but soft and cool, "that's very strange;"

Said Akwakok, "that's medicine, most powerful, great medicine."

Ah hey ya ya ya ya ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

You too, my friend, you have it too

said spirit kindly bent,

but just for now let's skip that point

and look to see just who are you

Okonkwo or The Wind?

Ah here we are and guess what friend

you're both, it's true, you're both of them

but lest confusion naturally

consume your thoughts, listen to me

Ah hey ya ya ya ya ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Forget, you do, God's great surprise

that from earth's dust you do arise

more times than one, like it or not

in pain, in joy, sometimes in rot

His purpose must be understood

that you should know true Brotherhood.

Ah hey ya ya ya ya ya ya

Ah hey ya hey ya ya

Akwakok for eternity

is how you're known by all of we

for choose you did that name up here

when souls God first made; lend an ear

Akwakok is the perfect you

Okonkwo in subconscious knew

and so did those you've been before

Consuela, Lucient, and more.

Ah hey ya ya ya ya ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

We'll speak of this until in mind

the memory of them all you'll find

but first I must apologize

they failed, these things you call my eyes

I saw you as Okonkwo strong

I greet all souls, I'm sometimes wrong

so hopefully that bit's repaired

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Now that your peace of mind is spared

I'll bring the light most true to you

Ah hey ya hey ya hey ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Of late (so called, for there's no time)

you've known some lives less than sublime

Okonkwo was engulfed in pride

so by the law he did abide

Ah hey ah hey ah hey ya ya

and paid for it through karma's rule

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Next time he did not play the fool

much happier, in reverie

fulfilled in heart, through Love you see

his life as Akwakok was free.

Ah hey ya ya ya hey ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Remember thee the People do, your strength and more as Akwakok

as symbol of a glorious past

in that house long your name shall last

Ah hey ya ya ya hey ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Okonkwo's strength of purpose will

be wed with blessed humility

for that you learned as Lucient

when far below earth's surface went

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

God put you there to learn it best

in that black hole with coal's black threat

as symbol of the depth of this

the sin of bloated arrogance

Ah hey ya ya ya ya hey ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

'Twas pow'r you sought in vain pursuit

in some lost life upon the skein

but all we care about for thee

thou knowest now futility

that's all we care about for thee

that you did learn humility

it's all for thee, it's just for thee

a gift from God, Humility!

Ah hey ya hey ya hey ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Justice it's called by men and God

and you Consuela suffered from

the lack of it upon your life

now justice will thee take as wife

when next you tread man's streets of strife

that time will be the last, ah hey

Ah hey ya ya ya hey ya ya

Hey ya hey ya hey ya

Purpose of will, humility

a sense of justice carries thee

the sum is greater than its parts

you now possess the King of Arts

for you the heav'nly bell shall ring

you'll tread earth with Understanding!

Ah hey ah hey ah hey ya ya

Ah hey ah hey ya ya

Ah hey ah hey ah hey ya ya

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Understanding you'll carry there

in heart, in mind, in harmony

in harmony ah hey ah hey

Ah hey ya ya ya ya

Upon the church of harmony

yourself and God the rock ya hey

this last time will fulfill God's dream

this time you'll be with He!!

Ah hey ya hey ya hey ya ya ya

Hey ya ya ya ya................

Next time you'll be with He!

copyright © cliff morris 1984

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