Down in the valley, we met
He perched on my shoulder
‘Screech! Shriek! ‘ello hiker, I’m Kenke Owo nkara, di eagle.’
I “shook his eagle wings”
‘Screech! Can I take you up there?’
I hopped on his back, excited.
Kee-eeeee-arr! We as-de-as-descended
One moment, Kenke Owo nkara is a vulture
eating carcasses, refuse and dung
Then a parrot. He scorned all air and land creatures,
‘Squawk! Dem ugly, gawky, smelly, even mouthy.’
Going up, Kenke Owo nkara tapped my water drink bag,
‘Screech! A sip, a sip!’
I placed the pipe in his beak. He drained it!
‘Screech! Shriek! Please, carry me. My wings have taken a beating.’
He hopped on my back, excited
‘Screech! Shriek! Can I have some blood to cool my thirst?’
I slit my back. He drained it.
‘Shriek! I’m now full of life.’
He slapped my back. I collapsed at the apex
‘Help me, Kenke Owo nkara,’ I cried
He clawed my chest, poo-pooed in my mouth,
‘Shriek! I have never seen a brainless, skull-less hiker.’
He stripped me of my gear, water bag, and knapsack
and covered me with dust.
Kee-eeeee-arr! He flew downwards.
I descended to the valley floor in search of the bird
Kenke Owo nkara had multiplied
Disguised as eagles,
hikers hopped on them.
‘They’d prey on you,’ I hollered. ‘Conquer the mountain yourself.’
‘How do you know?’ some who cared to listen asked
I revealed my chest. ‘Kenke Owo nkara and co are hawks.’
*Owo nkara – Deceitful person
