POETRY - AWAKEN!

By her side I sat

The admired, from afar

Spotted in the crowd

In the rush to book comfort

Alone, together

I thought it a blessing

With the Pilot minding his wheels

I imagined us in a dialogue -

Beholding nature, pointing, appreciating landforms

Speedily we past them

The crowd that sought to thee hide

Hastily, we moved fast into nature’s arms

But silence, whom I frustrated, almost to death

She encouraged, and nurtured to a stature that killed me

Hey! They all screamed

Many a voice began saying the same thing

Though they jammed into a confusing murmur

But her voice was distinct, as she gently tapped

Please stay awake; for you infect the Pilot!

Awakened, I turned

I beheld her beauty!

How could I remain near death

throughout my passage through you?

You sent your breeze, it greeted

My eyes beheld, many of the same -

Proud mounds, crowned with lush vegetation

Popped like the knocked head of a recalcitrant

So breath - taking were your views, oh Mpu!

as you heralded Nsukka

that you kept me awake; so glued to you

that I could only say goodbye to her

As we alit to meet another crowd!

FOOTNOTE:

So memorable was my second trip to Nsukka! Don’t get me wrong, the first ‘she’ was many men’s desire, in fact, I was the envy in the bus; but she snubbed, and the other said hi. Why should I now be blamed?