The Nordic Tribe
There is a movement of Scandinavians
going to the South of Europe, they have their church,
cafes and shops selling the type of food sold in
the North. The Spaniards, say, accept and ignore them
because these strange northerners came here for
The sun does not take anyone’s work.
You can call the economic refugees; it is cheaper here
and that also keeps the heating bill low.
The people of the North dislike refugees coming to their
country, a place to live, and they protest loudly.
One day, when the economy in the south is on par with
the Nordic one, who will leave, or seek other shores
where they can live as kings among the lesser
The Northerners are racists by nature, but do follow
the money and its fluctuations, and they can
See the local people where they have temporarily
sought shelter as foreigners.
Visibly wore she my footprints
While bore I a Restarted Scholarship,
In 1993 flaunting The Dullest Glints
With streets that rather mirrored hardship …
Okigwe was The Sometimes Chilly
And irritably The Hilly
A thing of sure hatred by Asthmatic Roads Users
And of as sure by Escaping Criminal Losers …
I’ve heard ‘By An Embittered Dweller cursed’
And since A Metaphor for The Started and Paused:
Often a fitfully regular power supply
And a loss of University Town status, no reply!
Towards modernity, a laborious marching,
Never able Galloping Speed hatching;
For guaranteed steady strides searching
Scarcely for The Dependable catching …
Now, harboring A Community of Northerners,
A lot enthused about their fast-selling Suya
And a Not-Hostile Host Southerners
For them striking more bargains than fewer.
I finished moving into my residential college as a storm began
- fat raindrops, as big as coconuts, falling from a black and fouling sky.
These northerners were acting like a "tropical storm" (Henri) was a big deal.
“Surely New England gets storms?” I ask, from behind my mask.
“What about NOR_Easters?” I say, like a meteorologist.
“Those are different.” I’m told, with no other explanation.
“Did you bring this storm from the “SOUTH?” I’m asked, accusingly.
*(This was after I told them about coming from one ”bulldog-college-town” to another.)*
“Yes.” I reply, “It was in my luggage.”
A silly question but they have a point - the storm feels like it’s involved and fulfilling some obligation to dramatize my college move-in story.
“Time to quarantine!” I’m informed - “Yep, can’t WAIT!” I lie.
One disaster at a time.
Jubilance is too mild of a word to describe what the slaves must have felt.
Unbelievable would not be truthful because they anticipated freedom.
Northerners achieved surrender from Southerners, but the nation lost.
Evil took a break as slaves celebrated, only to return in a different form.
Though thousands lost their lives, there was indeed a new birth of freedom
Everything changed except many hearts, but Blacks were no longer property.
Eating at the core of every soul were wounds that only God could heal.
Natives from Africa, a new race created by blood, hate, sweat, and tears.
Time heals all wounds, they say, which indicates a never-ending task.
History is replete with man's cruelty to each other, and the drumbeats of hatred continue.
06182018PoetrySoupContest, Juneteenth, Edward Ibeh, 2P
The Nordic Tribe
There is a great movement of Scandinavians
going to the South of Europe, they have their church,
cafes and shops selling the type of food sold in
the North. The Spaniards, say, accept and ignore them
because these strange northerners came here for
the sun and not take anyone’s work.
You can call the economic refugees, it is cheaper here
and that also keeps the heating bill low.
The people of the North dislike refugees coming to their
country a place to live and they protest loudly.
One day, when the economy in the south is par with
the Nordic one, the will leave, or seek other shores
where they can live as kings among the poor;
the Northerner’s are racists by nature but do follow
the money and its fluctuations and they have the ability to
see the local people where they have temporarily
sought shelter, as foreigners.
The westerners eat Amala and Ewedu
We eat Akpo and Ofe Nsala
They dance Juju and Apala
We dance bongo and atilogwu the beat of life.
T^he Northerners speaks hausa whilst we speak igbo
They married with no bride price and dowry
But we marry with bride price and huge dowry.
Cut the man"s hair low, short to remind him That
Marriage is never a bed of roses therefore he must look
After our pride, princess, prestigious priceless pretty queen
Who must painstakingly bear his name abandoning her
Humble background and journey with him amidst roses and bullets.
They wear buba and agbada in an architectural design
Darshiki from the north domain whilst we wear Ukwu george
They plate shoku, koroba and kpatawo and make beads round their neck
Igbo speak, yoruba frown, hausa dance, itskiri watch
Kanuri laugh, Ebira smile, Nupe point, Tiv demonstrate Fulani pick.
Idoma cry, Awori cry, Efik console, Ibibio comfort
Yet Unity we stand despite the cultural diversity.
One for all, all for one, we stand.
Bound to the humble land in hundred fold
Relevant is our culture and tradition
In defend shall we die and perish for our
Precious country.
Flamingos pink and perky love wading in the glades,
Lazing on white sand beaches you'll see tourists on display.
Oranges grow in groves off'ring juicy sweet splendor,
Rainy days combust into lightning flash and thunder.
Interesting marine life, such as Manatees, dwell here,
Days of blazing sunshine draw many Snowbirds near.
Alligators do abound - just want to make that clear!
To sum it up, Florida can be a tropical paradise.
A great place to live if you don't like snow and ice.
3/26/14
(For those of you unfamiliar with the term "Snowbirds": It's the nickname for the Northerners
who come spend their winters in Florida's warmer climate)
Two months past solstice
Subtropical climate sears
Just open the door
Step into oven
Midday sun chars skin and lawns
Sweat flows so freely
Water use rises
AC gives welcome relief
Scalding sand on beach
Take frequent showers
Florida lifestyle envied
Northerners don’t know
Blazing heat last months
Visits to the Sunshine State
Best planned in winter
*Entry for Francine’s contest, written August 22, 2011 by Carolyn Devonshire
FLORIDA
We Floridans sometimes take for granted
What everyone else has always wanted
Our state has it all
But we prefer our problems to recall
We’re Northerners gone south - deportees.
Still we might complain about the palm trees
And the climate tropical
And frerquent shuttles astronomical.
Today our home is standing on a knoll
Tomorrow maybe in a limestone sink-hole
If sea level rises
We new-Floridans are sure in for surprises
Strong cyclones or should I say hurricanes
As they’re usually called by Fla-Americans
Give us warm breezes
In case the precious orange crop freezes
Even our beautiful Everglades park is hostile,
Filled to the gunwhales with crocodile.
But I’ll be fair - the alligator
Is really the aboriginal Sunshine Stater.
Beautiful robins,
Bobbing, working and singing,
Heading northward soon!
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