THE SKILLFUL CARVER

Part stone, part metal, covered in mud

She is carved

Even sharpened venomous teeth seep not

They only scratch her mud coverings which you easily rebuild

Your mood while carving,

I am curious

Packing so much strength in that small a frame

Carving so many angels to watch over her

This soul stands afar and watches her vehicle awed

 

Chorus:

‘Obuↄ fa, dadeɛ fa! Nhwia nkatasoↄ

Owura Omintimirim!

Agya mmo!

Obuↄ fa, dadeɛ fa! Nhwia nkatasoↄ

Owura Abↄdeɛ nyinaa asomdwoe nkatasoↄ!

Agya mmo, mmo!!!’

 

II

Little dolls with machinations

Take longer to carve

You must have taken your time

Like Job had time to pass Your test

Knowing her ride cannot be smooth

You made her vehicle durable

And made her engine huge, fierce and fearless

Painting her with enemy repellant

Knowing You will fight most of her battles

 

Chorus:

‘Obuↄ fa, dadeɛ fa! Nhwia nkatasoↄ

Owura Omintimirim!

Agya mmo!

Obuↄ fa, dadeɛ fa! Nhwia nkatasoↄ

Owura Abↄdeɛ nyinaa asomdwoe nkatasoↄ!

Agya mmo, mmo, mmo!!!’

Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © 2015

(For the benefit of my foreign followers, the chorus reads:

“Half stone, half metal! Soil coverings

Lord of Lords

Well done God!

Half stone, half metal! Soil coverings

Creator and shelter of all things

Well done Lord of Lords”