Today I gave an old man tobacco
Wrapped in polythene, given with a smile
He raised his head and looked at my eyes
Fair and square, as if by looking at them
He could look through my heart
I looked on, unsure about the wisdom of my
act
When he smiled to expose his toothless gums
His palms outstretched as if on prayer
He stamped his feet around, waving the
tobacco
The object of his delight, I never saw an
old man happy
He spat on my palms and his, then rubbed
them in my armpits
And my forehead and toes, saying:
“ My Child, let Tororot, the God of the
Rising Sun
Brighten your path, whatever your heart
conceives
Let it come to fruition, may your enemies
scatter
And be trapped in panyirit, may your children
Be the sons and daughters of this land,
When am long gone to join my ancestors
May the fireplace of your hut never be dark
May your bulls grow big horns
May milk never lack in your gourds
May other elders listen to you in kokwo”
C) Lorot Salem 2011
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