Musings

On the Passing of a Literary Icon

(For Chinua Achebe)

We were there…

Summoned by the call of the horns

The rhythmic beat of your drums

To join the dance you started

To sing with joy, the glorious words

Of exalted songs too deep to grasp

And mimic the intricate steps

Of your craftsmanship

Master!

We were there…

When you were lifted shoulder-high

Wielding Excalibur to the brilliant heavens

You plucked the stars from their abode

The azure skies

You conquered worlds – far and near

On your prolific  loom milling with lofty tales

Griot!

We were there…

We celebrated your victories

In wonderment and laughter

In the midst of the spoils of your battles

Won on the landscape of grand tales

Carved from the bosom of a master-thinker

Sage!

We were there…

When you danced your exit

To resounding applause and blazing comets

Yes, we were there!

At the final curtain call

To bid you, Great country-man, farewell

Patriot!

And we dance…

Like the rippling waves  of the Niger

On this  dawn of your great awakening

The unwieldy dance that you started

And follow in the remnants of your steps

Your mantle to raise, shoulder-high

To the blazing throne of heaven

Made  richer by your visitation

While  we live and breathe

Your undying essence

Icon!

                                                               fafa m. nutsukpo; april 3, 2013.

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                                           A DAUGHTER’S WORLD

             A daughter’s world is, indeed, an intriguing place.
            Sometimes, its winding paths are paved with gold – golden moments , 
            visions and triumphs!
            Sometimes, its valleys and hills are littered with pain - struggles, fears and 
            doubts .
            But, through it all, a daughter remains a daughter.
            A daughter’s world is, indeed, a fascinating place.
            Filled with suspense, mysteries, dreams, the pot of gold at the end of the 
            rainbow.
            Not always!
           Often, the harsh realities of life dot the backdrop of the daughter’s world, 
           and she must persevere, for life isn’t always “sugar and spice and all things 
           nice!”
           A daughter’s life is a tapestry of ups and downs, clouds and sunshine,
           failure and success.
           But in the words of the great Winston Churchill,
           “success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that 
            counts.”
           And so a daughter must be resilient in strife, persistent despite failure, and, 
           even in success, inspired to reach ever higher to the heavens for the stars.
            Indeed, a daughter must be two things: who and what she wants to be.
            For she should have the freedom to be – a daughter!                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                           fmnutsukpo
                                                             
                                                                                                           (May 3, 2013)