GAM WRIT ERS

By Gabriel J. Roberts

Amata is dead.

No more shall man

That strange phenomen behold.

Come, boys, let's drink to him

He was a man!

He troubled no-one,

Was content

With what he had, and lived

A vagrant life,

But died a saint.

Come, boys, let's drink to him.

He was a man!

Remember the bull,

The dread of dockers,

Fear'd by man and child?

Who could lift up a car

And hold it high

By sheer force

Of natural strength

Till the tyre is changed to new?

No-one but Amata.

Come, boys, let's drink to him.

He was a man!

Once at Westfield

We assembled

To celebrate our Nation's birth.

The boys were there, the girls were there,

When through the curtains

There appear'd

A monstrous creature,

A living mask that could affright the living

Just as much

As did Medusa's head,

Then into the light he stepp'd

And who was he?

No-one but Amata!

Come, boys, let's drink to him.

He was a man!

For one good hour

He entertained

The ladies.

He spoke, he sang, he danced;

He was his own musician,

Football commentator,

Comedian, wrestler, artist,

All in one.

Come boys, let's drink to him.

He was a man.

One Christmas day,

I met a painted devil.

`Where's your mask?' I asked.

He laughed and roar'd with laughter.

`You must be joking!

What better mask

Than this derived from God?'

I, speechless stood

And from my purse

One dalasi I took and gave

To him for Christmas.

'Thanks father,' so he call'd me,

And off he went away,

As happy as a lark.

Come boys, let's drink to him.,

He was a man.

I knew him late in life,

But grew so fond

Of him. His football commentary

Keeps ringing in my ear.

`The ball with Palmer?

Pass the ball to N' Dow,

Dawoodu, Davies, Roberts, N'Jie,

And now to Thomas!

A h! this could be dangerous!'

That was a goal for sure,

And Amata was right:

Come, boys, let's drink to him

He was a man!

His last few days

He spent in hospital.

'Come, Father, pray for me,

I am a Catholic.'

This, Father did and went his way.

Next day he said

`Goodbye my friends'.

And off he went to God

Which is his home.

Come, boys, let's drink to him

He was a man.