Grandpa's Story

By Joseph Gbadamosi

Rickety Rickety Rickety doh,
That's my Grandpa's chair,
A cough, a shout and then a cry,

Once upon a time…

Once upon a time, he said
In a village far away,
There lived animals of fate who all obeyed,
a great and mighty King

A party was thrown to celebrate,
the victory of the then King of fate,
"The Iron King!" they cried aloud
And long live the king of Clouds

Aha! Aha! Aha! Aha!
that's my fellow friends,
But Grandpa! Who's this king? they cried,
Of fates, iron and lots of friends

Don't jump the gun! my folks,
It's a story of passwords, puzzles and bolts,
But with the rules of speech we can,
Unearth the truths there are to find

And as the party went on and on,
As drinks were shared amongst them all,
There stood a being behind the crowd,
Hovering and watching, wanting to strike

A check, a squint and then a breath,
He ensured he was ready to strike,
But as he closed his fingers around his spear,
A fairy poured the dust of past

Like a rainbow after the rain,
Like the sunrise after the dawn,
The stories became as clear as day,
And the being remembered a story of pain

A child of Silver but now of bronze,
Who had all there were to give a child,
A child who fate connived to strike,
And take both parents at early an age

Mockery, Abuse, disdain and fears,
Became daily visitors of our dear friend,
Grief, depression, pain and tears,
Faithful Companions, Worthy friends

The world would go on and on,
Not throwing a single hand of help,
And in pains and trials he grew to hate,
All who cost him so much pain

Whew! Whew! Whew! Whew!
That's our dear friend again,
Launching his spear across the skies
And resting to watch an icon die

Aimed at the heart of the king it flew,
An abomination of revenge and truth,
The moon nodded in approval,
And bade him farewell.