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    Sober Reflections: A Collection of Poems
    Sober Reflections: A Collection of Poems
    Sober Reflections: A Collection of Poems
    Ebook113 pages43 minutes

    Sober Reflections: A Collection of Poems

    By Iorshagher Ikyereve

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    About this ebook

    Sober Reflections is a collection of 83 poems. It is divided into three phases: Episode I (1993 1999). This section has 37 poems. Episode II (2000 2006) has 32 poems, while Episode III (2007 2008) has 14 poems.



    Each of these episodes is an account or a description of a phase in time, an event, a situation or period of time in the poets experience in life that is important or interesting in some way which the poet wishes to communicate to his readership. As the title of the anthology implies, it is a poets reflection on experiences over periods of time or happenstances of life.



    In Sober Reflections, there is a unique feature that cuts across the whole poems and which holds the reader spell bound - the poets use of simple diction, which enhances good understanding and motivates the reader to read onto the end of each poem and the anthology at large. His poetic diction which includes words, phrases, length and complexity of sentences, or choice of words are not abstract; not far-fetched or bookish. They are current in the ordinary conversation of the time. His deliberate use of simple words, features, analogies and images drive home his messages more concretely.



    The background of these poems and the subject of creativity are quite local and familiar his childhood experience, village life, River Benue, Africa, etc., even help drive home his message more pointedly as opposed to abstract settings. Poems that deal with historical times and the poets emotions such as; When I was a boy; Dookenger; I need you; I am in love, and a host of others, are very local and familiar. Natural imageries employed are quite apt and make for easy understanding of the poems.


    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse UK
    Release dateFeb 25, 2011
    ISBN9781452051529
    Sober Reflections: A Collection of Poems
    Author

    Iorshagher Ikyereve

    Born at Sati-Agirigi in  Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State,  North-Central Nigeria, Iorshagher Ikyereve attended the famous Government College, Katsina–Ala where he obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE).  He  proceeded to Benue State University, Makurdi, and the University of Abuja, Abuja, where he bagged a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication and a Masters of Arts (Media Arts ), respectively.   His passion for writing manifested in the early days of his life. At the age of fifteen he was selected as the editor-in-chief of his College news magazine, based on his grades and a written competition. He graduated top of his class as the best Student of the Year in Literature in English. He was also elected as the President of Mass Communication Student Association, Benue State University Chapter. The Vision,  a departmental Students’ training magazine and newspaper were first published during his tenure.   He was appointed the editor of  NYSC Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) and later,  editor-in-chief of  Delta State NYSC Editorial Board, during his mandatory National Youth Service in Delta State, South-South Nigeria.  Until recently, he worked in Abuja as a freelance Journalist/ Media Consultant. Currently, he serves in Government House, Makurdi as Special Assistant (Administration).

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      Book preview

      Sober Reflections - Iorshagher Ikyereve

      Contents

      Episode I 1993–1999

      Crossroads

      Children Of Africa

      Dilemma

      Antidote

      Song Of A Gardener I

      Song Of A Gardener Ii

      Besotted Monkeys

      Eulogy To River Benue

      Sober Reflection I

      Sober Reflection Ii

      Sober Reflection Iii

      Womanhood

      Bitter Honey

      Holy Banquet

      When I Was A Boy

      Doxology I

      Doxology Ii

      Black Energy

      Sealed Pardon

      Lovers Of Affluence

      The Stranger

      Broken Pillars

      Celebrate Your Maker

      My Mother

      Queen Of Worth

      I Want To See My King

      WE Are Too Far From Nature

      Little Sparrow

      Prosperity

      Reality I

      Reality Ii

      Tribute To Katsina-Ala

      Vicissitudes Of Life

      Compromise

      You’re Better Off Without One

      Destructive Termites

      Wintertide

      Episode II 2000–2006

      Dookenger

      I Need You

      Goodnight

      Searching For Comfort

      No Paragon Of Virtue

      I Am In Love

      In The Jungle

      Cloudy Horizon

      My Father’s Birthday

      The Messiah Is Not Yet Here

      The Old Bird

      Simpletons On Wheels

      Where Were You!

      New Year Resolutions

      On The Breadline

      Democracy And Politics

      My Beloved Country

      A Thief In Broad Day Light

      Tribute To Nelson Mandela

      Executive Beggars

      Nationalism

      The Herdsman

      Zaki-Baim I

      Zaki-Baim Ii

      Nostalgia

      Alfred Asogo – A Friend Gone Too Soon

      Bitter Pills

      Bother Me No More

      Invective Singer

      Song Of A Student

      Mister Scrooge

      This Animal Called Man

      Episode III 2007–2008

      Unreproachable Giver

      Nature Begets Nurture

      The UnivErse

      Beauty Is Truth

      Longing For You

      Junk Philosophies

      Yuletide

      I’m Going Home

      The Rains

      If I Were You

      Sunrise In Benue

      I Live In A City

      If I Had A Sweet Voice

      Wind Of Change

      Farewell To A Beloved Mother

      The Trailblazer

      Acknowledgements

      I am full of thanks to God for his amazing grace, which enabled me to put together these pieces of poems, gathered over the years, in a book form. I owe much to Mr. Benjamin Awua, Dr. (Mrs) Lucy Vajime and Mr. Zaayem Agye, my teachers who gave me the key to the world of poetry.

      I would also like to thank Professor Saint Gbilekaa, who despite his tight schedule was able to read through the first manuscript of this anthology and offered useful suggestions. Dr. Ata Pine and Rev. Samuel Aluga were also intellectually supportive beyond measure.

      Her Excellency, Arc. (Mrs.) Yemisi Dooshima Suswam, Wife of the Executive Governor of Benue State has contributed immensely to the publication of this book. Her Excellency’s support and tremendous assistance in this regard are highly appreciated.

      I must say that I owe a special debt of gratitude to my lovely wife, Mrs. Nyiyam Ugbe-Ikyereve whose encouragement and moral support sustained me during the final editing of these poems. I am also indebted to AuthorHouse Publishers for accepting to publish this book.

      Introduction

      I cannot say exactly when and how I got entwined in the world of poetry. All I can remember is that I became an enthusiast of literary works during my days in secondary school. As the editor-in-chief of the school magazine and newsletter, I was posting writings on the bulletin board on weekly bases and occasionally printing some in the newsletter. Then it was a mixture of prose and poetry, prosaic ideas carefully arranged in verses.

      In 1993, however, I became fascinated with the Romantic ideas of John Keats. His poetic writings struck my artless imagination and rapidly imprisoned my faculty. Keats’ writings ignited a poetic firework that was already smoking in my intellect. The encounter, which was brief but memorable, gradually and subconsciously reordered my poetic orientation.

      It may interest you to know that a handful of poems in this anthology were written while I was still pursuing a bachelor’s

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