Ghana Wails ~ The World Weeps - Ishmael-Sigismund Laryea

Sound the gong`gong
Beat the fontomfrom
Let the Kings & Chiefs go naked!
Billions, millions, thousands & hundreds
The Queen Mothers beat the mountains on their chests
Yes! the tears on cheeks cannot be counted
Unto whose shoulders will the palanquin be mounted?!

Indeed! Ghana wails & the world weeps
Away Happiness sails and in Sorrow creeps
Ghanaians, gather your black cloth
For to grief we now betroth
Like a moth to a flame
We will hail your name!
Indeed! Ghana wails & the world weeps

Odomankoma ~ the giver of life
You have left your people with bitter strife
This news is too much, it cuts like a knife
It's as sharp n deadly as a warrior's sword
Yes! Ghana has lost her spinal chord
Emotions have taken flight like a Concorde

He has fallen
The Might Oak has fallen
The Baobab Tree has been uprooted!
The Black Star of Ghana just fell from the flag
Away Happiness sails and in Sorrow creeps
Indeed! Ghana wails & the world weeps!

Who is brave enough to deliver this message?!
Who will be there to grant him safe passage?!
It is with a hero's blood that we write this page
Yes! it's with a heavy heart that will tell this story
What else can we say?! Sorry, but yet we worry!
Oh no, there is no joy in this, there is no glory!

Indeed! Ghana wails & the world weeps
Away Happiness sails and in Sorrow creeps
Ghanaians, gather your black cloth
For to grief we now betroth
Like a moth to a flame
We will hail your name!
Indeed! Ghana wails & the world weeps


Ishmael-Sigismund Laryea is a Ghanaian poet.

If you have a poem in memory of President Mills, please send it to us at oneghanaonevoice(at)gmail(dot)com.

1 comment:

Kajsa Hallberg Adu said...

Hi Would like to use a part of this poem in an article I am writing for a Ghanaian newspaper, please let me know if that is ok with you!Will of course give you and the blog credit.