Oath. Poem by Akinwale Peace Akindayo

If they will bite us with their teeth

and smite us with their thin fingers

and make our pain toss us a-wind.

if they 'll unfulfill their goodwill,

may they beg us and sweat for bread.

Ase!

If they will breathe their foul into

our breath. and break the term between

god and men like the bridge in your bush.

if they 'll unfulfill their goodwill

may they beg us and sweat for bread.

Ase!

If they will cause our face to shine

against the sun of our goodness,

and make us slaves without our bread.

if they 'll unfulfill their goodwill,

may they beg us and sweat for bread.

Ase!

If they will lie before the world —

the world that is inside our house,

you know the truth can be a lie.

and the big lie can be a truth.

may they beg us and sweat for bread.

Ase!

If they stand back and front our fate

while we wait for a lost music

to sing to our miserable joy.

if they 'll unfulfill their goodwill,

may they beg us and sweat for bread.

Ase!

They are the long-armed government,

we are the deathless commoner;

if they will enslave their masters —

if they 'll unfulfill their goodwill,

may they beg us and sweat for bread.

Ase!

We are the free laughter from the

strut of the earth. yet we are the

fading lines of our show'ng lyrics —

(because we will still lost ourselves,)

and they 'll unfulfill their goodwill

Ase!

"words from the innocent mind"

Akinwale Peace Akindayo

Philip Peace