There
was this particular instance that I again smiled to myself and wondered
what page of the book I had captured the scenario. I wanted to tell him
that this same deja vu he was complaining about has been reflected in
‘Euphoria of Sophistry’ page so, so and so under the title ‘Som Kain
Tins’ on the fourth stanza, but how could I go about making references
and in the process, advertising my book in church while prayers were
still on! I just smiled to myself, chuckled silently and gave him a
knowing look.
I attended Mass at one of the Catholic Churches in Kanshio this morning. I sat next to a man who expressed his feelings, especially his dis-pleasures freely, yes, while Mass was still in progress. Each time, I would just give him this knowing look, smile at him or to myself and resume my concentration at whatever was going on in church.
As soon as Mass was over, I rushed out and grabbed a copy of ‘E of S’ to confirm what page ‘Som Kain Tins’ appears. Why do I keep forgetting that it’s the poem after ‘Sisters and Needless Tussle’ which is on page forty-five. ‘Sisters and Needless Tussle’ is a two page poem and so, I wondered why it didn’t occur to me that naturally, ‘Som Kain Tins,’ the only Nigerian Pidgin English poem in ‘E of S’ should be on page forty-seven! I searched through the confused crowd screening with my eyes to see if I could still fish out my church-neighbour and friend amongst those eager to leave the church premises but it was clear he was lost in the milling crowd of worshipers who had just regained their freedom and were eagerly exercising it.
True, I sympathised with the man who sat next to me inspite of his inability to take control himself while Mass was still on. If not ‘parshia’ what else can anyone say about such an exceptional treatment given to a particular family while every other family or group that came out for ‘thanksgiving’ merely joined a single segmented procession to the altar where they were received and prayed upon by the officiating priest who was assisted by a Seminarian or Deacon.
I dare ask again, why give special prayers to those with obvious ability to offer or pay more in church?
I attended Mass at one of the Catholic Churches in Kanshio this morning. I sat next to a man who expressed his feelings, especially his dis-pleasures freely, yes, while Mass was still in progress. Each time, I would just give him this knowing look, smile at him or to myself and resume my concentration at whatever was going on in church.
As soon as Mass was over, I rushed out and grabbed a copy of ‘E of S’ to confirm what page ‘Som Kain Tins’ appears. Why do I keep forgetting that it’s the poem after ‘Sisters and Needless Tussle’ which is on page forty-five. ‘Sisters and Needless Tussle’ is a two page poem and so, I wondered why it didn’t occur to me that naturally, ‘Som Kain Tins,’ the only Nigerian Pidgin English poem in ‘E of S’ should be on page forty-seven! I searched through the confused crowd screening with my eyes to see if I could still fish out my church-neighbour and friend amongst those eager to leave the church premises but it was clear he was lost in the milling crowd of worshipers who had just regained their freedom and were eagerly exercising it.
True, I sympathised with the man who sat next to me inspite of his inability to take control himself while Mass was still on. If not ‘parshia’ what else can anyone say about such an exceptional treatment given to a particular family while every other family or group that came out for ‘thanksgiving’ merely joined a single segmented procession to the altar where they were received and prayed upon by the officiating priest who was assisted by a Seminarian or Deacon.
I dare ask again, why give special prayers to those with obvious ability to offer or pay more in church?
