This long and crooked path,

Life’s labyrinth,

Stretching out the petals of intrigues

cocooning Minotaur, son of Pasiphaë,

is to Labinnah just a thorny road to glory.

 

Are you Theseus, Labinnah,

That strong and mighty soldier?

 

Dreaded tales of the Labyrinth,

harsh bends, mazy turns, scary groans

and the presence of Minotaur,

here, there and nowhere

weave into music

 

The favourite of Ariadne,

Who dances ceremoniously in the mouth of death.

Inviting Theseus to dance along,

Wielding the sword of Aegeus

Which sways musically into the heart of Minotaur.

 

Where, Labinnah,

did Theseus strike Minotaur?

 

This long and crooked path,

Life’s labyrinth,

harbouring Minotaur,

the devourer of seven youths and seven maidens of Athens,

every turn of  the year

 

That last youth was devoured just this moon, a Maladi

And this moon, O Theseus,

You danced into the Labyrinth

Emerging with the head of a bull

Severed from the body of man

 

Speak, Labinnah,

are you Theseus?

 

This long journey back home,

without the white but a black sail

saw you climbing the throne of King Aegeus

to rule in peace,

a world formerly besieged by Minotaur.

 

But remember in your reign,

That I remain an Athenian, sacrificial lamb,

Saved by your courage to dare

And the love of Ariadne.

With my words, take my bow.

 

‘Here is courage, mankind’s finest possession, here is the noblest prize that a young man can endeavor to win.’ –  Tyrtaeus

 

LABBINNAH’S LEGEND: THE THIRD IN THE SERIES TO Adeojo Kolawole Adeyemi Hannibal, A BROTHER ON THE OCCASION OF HIS BIRTHDAY