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MARCHING OUT



In that war with Oba,

Our fathers know that Ete routed Oba

After Ete routed Oba, the men of Ete gathered

To see and welcome

Those men who fought and lay bare their lives

To save Ete and route Oba.



And in their glory,

Clad in arms garb,

Ready to do more battle,

The men marched past all Ete.



Ugbene was the head,

Saviour of Ete,

Man of all men,

Leader and best man in arms,

Victor over men, and victor over spirits.



On that day in Ete,

Ugbene sat with the elders

And so was not at their head

When Ubani yelled them out

With sounds and chants of war

From ageless tanned drums and bloodied cones.



These were the leaders of the hundreds,

In the great army that fought

In the days of Ugbene,

In the land of Ete.



At their head was Obiako,

Second only to Ugbene

In strength and prowess.



Then Uwaezuoke,

Mighty man,

Equal to those times

Perilous and rough.



And Ikpo,

Great with the sword.

He it was,

That stopped three men once

With a single slash.



And Obasi,

A great archer

Second only

To Obiako in pulling stringed weapons.



And Olekibe,

With an endless strength

Ranking the best man

In deeds of raw strength.



And Agommuo,

Another dare devil,

The best climber

And wonderful with the bow.



From the tree tops

Did he shoot down

Great number of enemies.



And Olugbuo

Fighting victorious

To the last.



And Odudu,

The spy and councilor.



And Akachukwu,

Like a predator

He mowed down enemies.



And Ogwugwu,

Who catches flying arrows

With his bare hands.



So, did he save many lives

With that perfect skill.



And Ugwu,

Who led the care for wounded men.



And Ogbugo,

Himself also

A killer of men.



And Omenamkpo,

The watchman,

With the clearest of eyes.



Many times did he see

Gathering enemies

From afar.



Many times did his perfect sight

Come to bear to save and keep his land.



And Onyemanweala,

Never dying

Charm bearer, opaigbeogu

He bore their cocked charms

And ran always

Close to Ugbene

Round all battles

Of that war.



UMULE, ABA NIGERIA.

FEB. 1999

Author's Comments : Marching out is a narrative telling of the leaders of an ancient African army, east of the Niger river. It was at the end of a victorious war.