MENDELS’S RELIEF

The first time I heard the song Oleku

It made me remember Abiku

That sorrowful cycle of birth and death

As death crept in with disguised stealth

Limited by the knowledge they had

Our forebears resorted to measures very bad

Many a forlorn mother would have to watch

As the corpse of a dead child is set to the match

Abiku or ogbanje whichever you please

Call it but it sure it won’t release

Many a mother from her nights of tears

All spent torn apart by her fears

Again and again the cycle repeated

It was a brazen cycle of death

Till many a couple were out of breath

And had their initial love very depleted

Today I can say that things have changed

Science and Mendel have brought some relief

To so many families bound by their belief

That the stubborn Abiku would never be aged

It was just a challenge of genotype

So AS or SS, what is your type

Odim Street, UNN, 1829 hrs, 27.05.11

ANGUISH OF A LETTER

ANGUISH OF A LETTER

For six long years we’ve known each other

Till we were as close as can any brother

Did I say brother when I meant sister?

Could your gender have a hand in making it bitter?

No, twas the arrival of the letter

That said, I should have known better

Your young niece needs blood I was told

If she dies I’ll greatly sorrow

No way even if we must borrow

Another’s blood is as costly as gold

I’ll give my blood, I said boldly

Just ensure am not treated coldly

So off I went to DIFF in a cab

Where I was ushered into a lab

In came a slender nurse and my arms were dabbed

That I didn’t feel a thing when my arm was stabbed

As the blood flowed my heart erupted with joy

But not for long because fate was coy

In the visitors lounge, there I waited

Letting my eyes feed on images as they floated

Watching a show called Big Brother

And see some folks act like they had no mother

There I sat till there was a flutter

I looked up and saw the nurse with a letter

Sorry we can’t use your blood type

Because it’s not the right phenotype

In this letter are further details

With all the test carried out on your blood

This letter plunged me into a bad mood

And I left like a cat with tucked in tails

Blimey you might query what I did see

That made me to lose every glee

It was a report labeling me an AS

I try to ponder on all I gather

And immediately recalled you were AS

Cancelling the likelihood of a future together

Again and again I remember that letter

That keeps telling me I should have known better

Odim Street, UNN, 1809 hrs, 27.05.11

INDELIBLE IMPRINT

Tall and graceful she stood apart

She struck my heart, jokes apart

Was her melodious voice ringing

That set my heart singing

Or was it her godly wit and wisdom

And in depth knowledge of God’s kingdom

That made her actions strikes a chord in my heart

And made my job a very easy art

Yes it is true I have known

Through experience I have gathered

People whom heaven have fathered

Have a distinct personality that is renown

Who is this who in a short frame

Acquired from me such fame

Onyinyechi is her name

Federal Polytechnic, Idah, 1549 hrs, 25.06.11

LIFE’S PARADOX

LIFE’S PARADOX

Have you ever thought “life’s not fair”

And wished you retire to a secret lair

Where you could be all by yourself

Leaving all your jobs to a house elf

So you might do a bit of soul searching

And be further strengthened for future marching

He wants you out of his house 

You are no longer his spouse

And you want to end your life

Because you aint his wife

Take heart, life must go on

It aint important he was a big con

That you failed an exam is not issue

If you insist on crying I’ll give tissue

Don’t give up my dear

No need to fear

Just bend down and try again

By it you’ll your confidence regain

You sit thinking your lots the worst

Any moment your tear bag might burst

You lost your dad now your joy is gone

Ever remembered those who had none

Having a weepy face is pointless

Don’t because all that’s meaningless

Your mates make you a laughingstock

So you feel like you are out of stock

They talk to you and it lands like a rod

Whatever they say they aint your God

Just understand you are the best

And pursue purpose with all zest

Because you complain bout nature’s test

You’ve not given humanity God’s best

Do you know the toughness of your brain

Is enough to give everyone enough grain

Purpose aint understood so there’s abuse

That’s why many talents lie in disuse

Life is not the problem dear reader

It doesn’t matter that you are a trader

You don’t have money

Not even to buy honey

That’s ok, just have a good attitude

Your life will overflow with beatitude

Final Year Mechanical Engineering class, UNN, 1427 hrs, 05.06.11

JOYOUS JOY

I once beheld a maiden so fair

She always had a secret lair

Where she communed with heavenly grace

Granting her ease to run life’s race

Seeing her fills one with rapturous joy

Oh am not surprised her name is Joy

In love with Jesus I know she is

She’s so entwined I know she’s His

His fruits I long to make mine, she says

For I know with proof that it pays

One of the fruits I’ve seen is joy

Oh am not surprised her name is Joy

This is a sister that looks so comely

Who makes everyone around feel homely

So sophisticated and yet so simple

Is this maid with a dimple

That makes everyone around her erupt with joy

Oh am not ashamed for her name is joy