Threshold Of Nothingness - Poems by Francis Ohanyido
- By Francis Ohanyido
- Published May 6, 2007
- Poems
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Rating:
Francis Ohanyido
Francis Okechukwu Ohanyido is a Nigerian poet, oral African Historian, Fine Artist, Philosopher and an advocate of the Neo-African Renaissance (Afrisecal movement). He has won many accolades in both the arts and the sciences. He studied at the University Of Jos, (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery 1991-2000) and the Imo State University (post-graduate diploma in Hospital and Health services administration with bias for Public Health medicine 2000-2001). He is the foundation President of Nigeria Telemedicine Development Alliance. He is a member of many international humanitarian organisations such as the South African - based Doctors for Life International. He is also an active member of Kaduna Writers League and Association of Nigerian Authors, Kaduna state. Ohanyido is currently working on a novel, The Red Cap.
View all Entries by Francis OhanyidoTHRESHOLD OF NOTHINGNESS
He stood still
Trembling in the night
A threshold
Of nothingness
A black face
Washed with sweat
Tanned by the sun
Agleam in moonlight.
Palm frond
Twisted between
Quavering lips
A mockery
Of warriorhood
A tale of strangers
With skin of nzu
And abominable betrayals
Of the calabash
Of the kindred spirits.
His body shook
For fear stood
With him.
Why?
Cried his mind.
His uncle?
Abomination!
Strength fled
His being
And his body
Paid fear
With chills
As his knees
Like drained saplings
Bent to kiss
The earth.
He tried to stand
But the hut
Began to spin
Again the knees
Greeted the earth
And his shackles
Bit deeply
Into his ankles.
How long now
2 , 4 ?6 moons?
The stench of his fear
Made brother
To his excrement
Keyed his senses
As nausea
Like a tempest
Welled up in him.
His arms
Across his chest
Met in a hug.
With head bowed
In conquered submission
The amulet bands
Hugging his arms
Watched
In serpentine impotence
A warrior subdued
He awaited the cockcrow
Into
An unknown world
A fate
Worse than Osu!
SMILE AWAY THE PAINS
Though gray streaks of sorrow
Permeate our hearts
Today we shall roll our carts
Before the sun be blue, we?ll borrow
Sunbeams to shine our smile
And away with all the terrible bile
Of regrets and pains
That pierce so deep
Like the rains
Of tiny needles
On our hearts.
Away with all the night sprites
That haunt our bedsides when we sleep
And fill our minds with frights.
The sunshine has been drawn!
Smile for our new dawn
Of great hopes,
Away from the mires
Of depression bathing the fires
Of unhappiness and despairs
That bind our beings like ropes?
Smile away the pains.Spread The Word
22 Responses to "Threshold Of Nothingness - Poems by Francis Ohanyido" 
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said this on 25 Oct 2005 4:39:33 PM EDT
This is Shelly reborn! I can only compare the imageries to Ozymandias. Simply Spell-binding.
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said this on 26 Oct 2005 10:51:56 AM EDT
The warrior's drum, that's the BOMB, right from african root, u can take that from us.
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said this on 26 Oct 2005 11:12:42 AM EDT
Threshold Of Nothingness Great, wonderful it's Simply poietic
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said this on 26 Oct 2005 6:58:16 PM EDT
Nice and unique.
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said this on 26 Oct 2005 7:01:05 PM EDT
This dish can be served to Wole soyinka and okara.
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said this on 26 Oct 2005 7:10:12 PM EDT
This is breathtaking and overwhelming
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said this on 26 Oct 2005 7:17:17 PM EDT
I like all of this poet's works.
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said this on 27 Oct 2005 8:51:02 PM EDT
Recently started studying African poetry and came across Mr Ohanyido's name and searches revealed many exceptional poems of his. I think The Chronicles of Chamballa is my favourite,but its not on this site.
Can I have his email address |
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said this on 29 Oct 2005 10:21:35 AM EDT
Threshold of nothingness has all the that it takes for a great poem. Keep it up.
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said this on 29 Oct 2005 10:25:29 AM EDT
I wish to be able to write poetry like these!
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said this on 29 Oct 2005 1:06:29 PM EDT
Enchanting and poignant for me as a non-African.
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said this on 31 Oct 2005 8:55:26 AM EDT
One of my favourite new generation African poets. Good mastery of the genre.
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said this on 31 Oct 2005 11:47:11 AM EDT
It some reading to get the depth of these poems..they are deeep and lovellly!Ify
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said this on 02 Nov 2005 3:59:15 PM EDT
I have to come back and read these poems again!
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said this on 05 Nov 2005 8:14:23 PM EDT
Deep and strong imageries..More great poetry expeted from you.
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said this on 17 Nov 2005 4:05:53 PM EDT
Very interesting theme.
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said this on 19 Nov 2005 2:21:15 PM EDT
If this collection by Ohanyido is anything to go by, then his place in the future of Nigerian poetry is sealed!
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said this on 20 Nov 2005 2:00:17 PM EDT
Very nice collection
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said this on 03 Dec 2005 10:30:47 AM EDT
The poems speak volumes for themselves!
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said this on 07 Apr 2006 7:35:34 AM EDT
Incredibly captivating!
Sunny Adagazu |
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said this on 24 Jan 2008 2:24:10 AM EDT
I read many an African poetry, but this is simply good. Very original!
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