Conversation With Christopher Okigbo

[wendywaide]

Why did you leave me
In this desert
With labyrinths of footpaths,
Without a guardian?
Dee Christopher,
Town crier,
Why did you leave me
On the paths of thunder?

I left you
In this desert
In this labyrinths of footpaths,
on the paths of thunder,
For your baptism.
I left you
To the guidiance of Idoto,
My Muse,
I left you to fight another war.

Do you have to fight that war?
Do you have to strap
Assault rifles
And pebbles of bullets?
There are men and women
Trained to fight that war,
You are a town crier.

Begone apprentice,
I left my gong and stick
At the sacred grotto
Of Mother Idoto
For you and your ilk,
For generations of town criers.

(Late Christopher Okigbo, a renowned Nigerian Poet lived from 1932 to 1968)

A Poem Sourced From The Poetry Website Of Comrade Chidi Anthony Opara, Titled: Homeland Melodies And Other Poems http://www.homelandmelodies.blogspot.com (http://www.homelandmelodies.blogspot.com/)

[dayo Phillips-arogbokun]

This poem, like others of its kind questions the 'vanished valour' of christopher Okigbo for his participation in the Biafran war which led to his 'untimely death'. Many (writers) believe that Okigbo was not fair to his 'pen' by abandoning it for the 'gun' to fight a battle which was far from his profession. His taking was not acceptable as he puts the society before the art. the society would rot and vanish one day but the art will remain evervescent and renewed. Put simply, today biafra war has since become a notoriety on the minds of Nigerians, even some Igbos, while the arts of Okigbo is still today cherished beyond the shores of Africa. He should have stuck with his pen and not allow his mind be robbed by the chants of warriors. Anyway i still say: long live Okigbo, Long live Mother Idoto, Long live the art, Long live Nigeria.