Good morning Pupils, Students, Teachers and Parents all round the glob.
Welcome to my blog and to class. Today is Sunday 3rd May, 2020 and I want to share an indepth analysis to one of my poems entitled Eka Imaobong with the aim of x-raying all the neurons and microscopic fears that students may have had about poetry and art as a discipline. Believe me,poetry is life and I would but wonder what life one would live if he or she cannot appreciate the beauty of nature crafted (submerged) in poetry.
I had in my previous post shared this poem but didn't have time to appreciate it. Hence, I will in the best of my abiity do just that.
So please read in between the lines of the poem you'd see the meaning of the poem itself.
Right there in the prime of the dawn you rise
even before the crows and forge barefooted
perforated by thorns and thistle
defying the August rains
not even minding the scourge of the sun
combing the wombs of the virgin ikot obioma forest.
searching for daily bread
to reprieve your hungry children
with dysentery energy,
your resilient hands
Summary of the poem
Eka Imaobong is written an original poem written by yours trully to celebrate the African woman whom I would call Eka Imaobong. In the words of the poet personae, one can see the imageries captured by the poet about the plight of Eka Imaobong who goes through a lot to ensure that her children have the best that life has got to offer.
The chronicles of her suffering spans from sunset till dawn even on empty stomach. No doubt, one who is a good literary critic would see clearly some undertones of Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood character – Nnu Ego in this poem. Hence, the critical reader should be absorbed with pity for Eka Nko whose lazy husband returns every night to exert his last breath on her. This is woman who once was as beautiful as the “Queen of Sheba” yet has now been turned Eka Imaobong whom the poet personae finds difficult recognizing, thus he asks a rhetorical question in the last line of the poem “i-i-i is this you?
Line to line Poetic Analysis
Right there in the prime of the dawn you rise
even before the crows and forge barefooted.
The first two lines of the poem points to the beginning of the struggle of the African mother, one who before the cock crows, she had rise up and set for work. Yet the man I imagine is sleeping and perhaps snoring while the wife sets out for the days task even on barefoot.
perforated by thorns and thistle
defying the August rains
not even minding the scourge of the sun
combing the wombs of the virgin ikot obioma forest.
Lines three to six describes how the woman, a mother with a heart of gold I most add, too off without footwear and she didn't mind the August rains nor the scourge of the son.
Note also the personification used here by the poet persona. I mean come to think of it, this woman Eka Imaobong is walking through a virgin forest without fear of being attacked. In things fall apart, it Okonkwo who was permitted to go round the village because he was considered a brave man.
However, for this woman to have gone through that forest which with the word "virgin" means that the forest is not been used by her before now, as this was her first time of visiting the forest. I am but wondering what may have prompted the woman to go through that risk. HMmmmmmmm, that is life for you. Our elders would say that when you see a toad running by the day time, two things are involved, it-s either it is been chased or it is charing after something.
searching for daily bread
to reprieve your hungry children
with dysentery energy,
your resilient hands
Summary of the last paragraph or lines shows that all this toiling by Eka Imaobong is for her children whom she fights hard so that the children may have what to eat.
Today may not be International Woman's Day, But I want you to take out time to celebrate all the mothers in the world including mine.
Words may not express it all, but I want you to know that I love you mum.
Thank you for reading my blog. I'll see you later+