Ikenga
It is not
sickness that I
am afraid of
It is not
disease that
makes
me tingle
It is not the
number of
days
months and
periods I go
hungry that
makes me
shiver
It is your
demise
that makes
me dizzy
I never knew
I had this
feelings
for you until
now
I never knew
how
invaluable
you are until
the eyes of
my pen was
opened
I never knew
I was living
with a god
in the form of
a man
I never knew
I was dining
with a human
God
many people
think your
death
is a serious
tragedy to this
land
many think it
is the wrong
time for
our hero to
die
many are
already
envisaging
retribution in
the land
but a few
persons
know that
you are not
dead
my family
loves you
my kindred
adores you
my villagers
reverence
you
my town
cherishes you
and
my state
magnifies you
The news
about your
demise
infuriated me
an epitome
of peace
has departed
literature par
excellence
is gone
quintesscence
of justice
is gone
aboard of
wisdom
is gone
Ojezuru mba
has passed on
Even the
dead are
aware
that you are
a paragon
"We don't
need you
here
now"... They
quipped
"those over
there are
wailling"
they repeated
Why must this
tree
that has no
replica
be allowed to
fall?
It is well
Even in the
well
You are ever
revered
the great one
Ije oma
A tribute to a
great literary
scholar,
Chinua
Achebe.
Copyright © Onyeka Onu | Year Posted 2013
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