PRISONER OF HOPE (1985). Continues on the same subject, now bothering on the undying nature of the human spirit: HOPE!

 

(1st Stanza): … Holding tight to my dreams of you.

 

(2nd Stanza):   All these years together

                                    And we’re still strangers

                                    The hurt and pains are what we share.

 

            FARIDA (1994), he also named this NA’OMI, also NASIHA. He talked very compassionately about this one. I remember trekking down once from a reading at British America in Jos “we’ll make a movie out of this one. It is the story of a young girl butting/struggling with her identity. She’s caged by her parents. And she wants to be free to taste of the world”

 

1st Stanza:       When like ghosts dead love rise

                                    To press on us the Braille dots of memory

                                    And the shadowy mouth of a sorceress

                                    Shall prescribe obscure cures and remedies

                                    When fate like a classic concertmaster

                                    Shall spread his overtures and tins wares…

 

2nd Stanza:      You will walk down the blue river

                                    With a pebble under your tongue

                                    Lending sulphurus heat to fire

                                    … Prophecies shall die on your lips.

 

            “Haka! Haka!” nodding his head, Obu Udeozo would respond to lines like this one. And you? Does your soul gravitate towards the above as does mine? Please check yourself in you feel nothing, for poetry should evoke such in you.

            BLUE ANGEL (1991). A simple celebration of; Life. And urge, a call for freedom of the Spirit: (2nd Stanza)

                        Blue Angel

                        Leave Sorrow till tomorrow

But tonight let the cup of joy overflow

 

(Last Stanza)

                        Hide a fallin’ tear with you wing

                        They that went out weepin’

                        Let them come in rejoicin’

 

VAGABOUND HEART (1993)

            It is said once, that the “Heart has it’s own reasons that reason knows nothing about” And this very poem amply augments that axiom. Perhaps you already have love, have flown on that nuptial flight (as I’m about to…) or steady in a relationship or have simply vowed, never to love again (which I think is terrible by the way, for we must always love again), but hey! That’s your heart suddenly set a – roaming. And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Cupid?

Izzia Confesses herein:

                        Wish I could love you from before the flood

                        Till well after the second coming of the Jew

… like the wrigglin’ warm loves the flesh of you Time and time again, I lay my life on the line.

But, baby, I’m cheated every time by this

Vagabond Heart of mine.

 

Sweet beauteous Poetry:

                        Wish I could take you home as my wife

                        Pay allegiance with all my soul to you alone

                        Wish I could be faithful to you all my life

                        … but a fatal impulse keeps thwartin’ me

                        This Vagabond Heart will be the end of me.

 

THE LAWGIVER (1993)

            Here, the religious. And the Christian in Izzia betrays itself:

                        This is the hour of the lawless one

                        It will be till the Lawgiver Comes

                        The Prophet was by my window

                        To give his word of warnin’

                        He said, beware of the creepin’ shadow

                        I see the dog-star ascendin’

                        Fevers will burn in many brains

                        To drive many insane.

 

            Izzia urges us to take heed, stay strong. Do not be led astray.

 

BLOOD (1993) addresses the innate in Kilt and Kin. This, he treated in many guises, but with reference to Cain and Abel in the 6th Stanza

                        I heard the first thunderclap

                        I saw noble Abel Slain

                        I saw the silver Cord Snap

                        And my soul hears the mark of Cain.