Voodoo, by Tom Mukasa

 Voodoo

That is a name,
pretty a fame,
say fire,
it doesn't burn,
sorry, am a liar,
well used,
it cooks our food,
ill used,
it burns our homes,
so is voodoo,
a name,
a parlay,
it is food,
nourishing and good-oh!
gluttony and bad-oh!
Daring fearlessly,

portentous stare into the sun,

gates that hold back rushing winds,

vines that tie fate in strong binds,

 forces that stop the motion of water falls,

rolled dices,
 Ouija, predictions,
 abracadabra, crystal balls,

excusable labels of experiences,

uncontainable dissipating energies,

unconfessed apostasy to some,

an open portal into a cosmic abyss,

a bridge of past, present and distance,

supreme and sublime sharing a handshake,

sublunar and mundane delegated to rule,

a heritage that only begins to define humanity,

remnants of ancient liturgy,

syncretic in the fashion of a coin,

religious rituals and political pacification,

a simple story of ecstasy and divination,

a revelation of the ingredients of birth, life and death,

cycles of ceremonies, celebration, possession and communion,

flesh that blunts swords,

bare-feet that subdue raging fires,

tongues that feast on embers,

teeth that bite into hot iron,

elephants that fly faster than eagles,

leopards that nurse goats,

zebras with hyenas feet,
gyrating loins,
scantily dressed,
 faces trapped in a trance,
succulent crimson rose garlands,
pedestal of thighs,
or a bunched up tumescence,

cobras worn as ornaments,

bees on leashes,

rules that conserve nature,

trees inhabited by spirits,

cleansing against spells,
 oligopoly of miracles,

appeasing spirits by libation,
 imprisoning tyranny,
 riotous funerals,

a path towards longevity and contentment,

uncharted destinations, perilous undertakings,

essence of charms, rapturing of promises.