POETRY CATALOGUE FROM OPULUICHE POETRY CATALOGUE FROM OPULUICHE
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
How Uzoatu Discovered America
Before Columbus,
I, Uzoatu
Son of Umugama-Umuchu
Discovered America
And put United
Into the States
From Alaska
To the Zoo
Whence I escaped,
An apeman
Laden with verbal terrorism!
Now the word is out
In drones of terror
For Yankee land
Of the cowboy fancy
In films of fluff
Never cultured
Until my bombing advent
In an underwear of horror
To put History
With a capital H
Where it fatally belongs:
The Fiction shelf.
Ikechukwu Asika
On His Triumphant Entry
(Relishing Peter Obi’s Lagos Experience) ~ 14-2-2023
From the tavern of political ecumenism
The news, like tsunami rounded the city, spreading love in it’s wake
The brightly colour pigeons flew high and above whispering it:
The Saviour is coming to Lagos
! A hope lost, is all but found!
And by the Rivers of their Babylon
The hoi polloi of the country cheered!
Beside the pool of Bethesda
The swan song of beggars exalt!
Nigerians, united in love, hope and creed
Besieged the streets with drums, trumpets and tambourines to celebrate the Second Coming!
***
And this boy, this poor broken boy,
ran into the street, to behold the miracle in his lifetime!
Alas! Before the beautiful gate, he saw him:
Armed spread, heart opened,
tears flooding, he gazed at him!
Two look at two:
One full of despair and hurt
The other full of empathy and conscience!
His arms he spread, waiting for heaven’s hug
His eyes he beamed, swearing to honor his words!
Two look at two: The future marveling at the contours of present
The ugly past, in sheer defeat, bowing out for the glorious future.
Two look at two:
A debt of gratitude bound to be repaid!
Silver nor gold he had none But he offered him what he had in abundance!
If only he had touch his garments too…
***
On the procession, he marched,
To embrace the spirit of Eko!
Eko of heroes and dream-chasers!
Lagos of humongous opportunities and fluffy fortune!
Lagos of skyscrapers and giant domes!
Lagos of Lekki, Banana Island, and Victoria garden city!
Lagos of Makoko, Bodija, and Ajegunle!
The city after all knows his true son!
The city dwellers truly know their healer!
Whatever happens next, the voice of reason has sounded:
Nigeria, behold your redeemer!
Peter Obi, behold your children!
And on this triumphant entry,
May the will of this nation triumph!
Okoye Oliaku Veronica
The sight of her
The look on her face
The young ones that surround her
A pair, another, and yet another
Readily beckons on sympathy
The root of the tree is brought down early
The branches have but vague knowledge of it
It held not long enough
The stem henceforth holds on
That the branches may not wither
Responsibilities abound.
Debts unpaid
Funeral rites approach.
Care for the young
All send invitation to sympathy
Nweke, Arinze Martins
Egbe ndo’
Her cry caught my attention as I paused to search for where she was.
I saw her, majestic as ever searching.
The boy in me smiled.
My girls called me back into the world.
I turned like Lot’s wife
To watch her again as she flew in circles.
She cried again as I smiled back.
Nwakaego Obi
Illusionary Dear: A Whisper of Love
Somewhere so near yet so far, lays thee soft and meek
In this gentle night, where stars shine bright,
Your heart beats with love, a precious light.
With every breath, you’re filled with care,
And wrapped in warmth, beyond compare.
May your dreams be sweet, and your rest be deep,
May love surround you endlessly,
May your heart stay filled, with joy and delight,
And love’s soft whispers, guide you through the night.
Always know you are adored
Even when I wish you sleep tight my love
For I have vowed that what comes may,
My heart will always house you deeply.
