Weeping Elements Poem by MAGNUS ABRAHAMDUKUMA

Weeping Elements

for: Gani Fawehinmi

On that cold September winter morning,
He slept in death and left hearts mourning,
The sky wept and her tears wet the hives of bees,
The wind crowed and her tears wet the trees,
At noon, the sun wept and her tears boiled,
At evening, the moon and stars wept and their tears boiled,
The earth, water, light, fire and spirits all wept,
As he ran, jogged, walked, crawled, and slept.

When icons depart, the elements weep,
For death doth eludes man’s grip,
An icon has left this clime,
Left legacies for all time.

The skirt and trousers, gown and wig will miss him,
The crown and nobles, literati and intelligentsia will miss him,
The good and bad, press and people will miss him,
Yes! We will all miss him!

All mortals must be born to the earth,
All mortals must sleep someday in death,
When he came, a child was born,
But, he’s gone with the wind, Gani is gone!

for: Gani Fawehinmi, who died at the early hours of Saturday,6th September,2009 at 71 after a protracted battle with cancer.

© Magnus C. Abraham-Dukuma, Monday,7th September,2009
Department of Public Law,
Rivers State University of Science and Technology,
Port-Harcourt