I'M EVERYWHERE (a poem by Sunsampaul Egwu)

Don't look for me in only a place of worship,
I'm everywhere, anywhere you call on me, I'll be.
I'm in your small dark room that lacks proper ventilation,
Even though it is not like a palace;
Just call on me.

I'm in the market place where noises are cooked and served to passerby,
No matter the sun and rain,
Flood and swamp in the market;
Just call on me.

I'm in the coven of your enemies that plot to kill you,
When they mention your name,
And invoke your image in a mirror,
My image will definitely appear to defend you.

I'm in the brothel, anytime you are there to win souls for me,
When temptation comes,
When seduction occurs,
I'll stand by you to keep your faith strong.

I'm in your kitchen and other room,
Inasmuch you call on me,
Made your knees kissed the ground just for me,
Stretched your hand in prayer,
You'll notice my presence.

©Sunsampaul Egwu Philosopher
Sunsampaul4globe@gmail.com
+2348180861170

DON'T ASK WHY(a poem by Sunsampaul Egwu)

Don't ask why the echoes from children of the streets still crack walls, break bridges, open ground, divide the cloud; yet couldn't rain down blessings.

Don't ask why the drop down tears from the eyes of our sick mothers caused heart attack for our poor fathers, deprived us our sleep, punctured our hope; yet couldn't   make the sun smile at us.

Don't ask why our graduates comb the streets in search of job, after spending more than four years in tertiary institution, yet couldn't set their eyes on a single placard of job opportunity.

Don't ask why our children in public schools don't have seats to sit, but still plant their buttocks on the floor, just to gain knowledge; yet find no devoted teacher to impart knowledge.

Don't ask why our economy is downtrodden, leaders backsliding, hospitals fallen, churches bombed, daughters kidnapped; yet no kerosene in the lamp to make us see the light of a better tomorrow.

Please don't ask why, don't make your worries become punchlines to punch minds, just go down on your knees and pray for these intentions, don't pretend they were not mentioned, lest your hope be placed under detention, just put your trust in God not in man

Strive to make sure there's no religious diversity, don't cast stone on the leaders but pray for a godly change of selfless interest, not a political change of selfish interest.

Put on a smiling face, let your physiognomy be radiant, don't make the excruciating pains put your back on the ground. Don't stoop so low just to go so low, but rise on your feet and make the sun smile at you.
Please don't ask why.

©Sunsampaul Egwu Philosopher
Sunsampaul4globe@gmail.com
+2348180861170

POETRY IS LIFE(a poem by Sunsampaul Egwu)

Poetry is the heart of art
The ladder that take a person of exceptional talent to the top
The light that brightens the life of human
The echoes of children of the street

Poetry is the prophecy of a prophet
Poetry is not only what I do
Poetry is who also I am
I write poetry, speak poetry,preach poetry
I am poetry

Poetry is the Mouth piece that speak peace more than a chief priest
Poetry is the hope of the wussies
Poetry is the future of the boys and girls who went and never returned
Poetry is the calabash that can never be broken
Because Poetry is life

©Sunsampaul Egwu Philosopher
Sunsampaul4globe@gmail.com
+2348180861170

POETRY IS THE HEART OF ART, SAYS SIR ERIATA DURING HIS INTERVIEW WITH CITADEL OF LIFE MEDIA

Question:

Sir how do your find a mentor as a poet ?  Someone to train you






Reply:

I started writing poetry in pidgin English. I was my mentor until I started writing poetry in English language. It was then I shared my works with the current President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Denja Abdullahi. He should be appreciated for being the very first person who showed seriousness in my works and guided me accordingly on the way forward.





Question:

Generally, both the English Poetry and the Naija Language puem dem, when did you started writing poetry.




Reply:

 I started writing poetry in my secondary school day.

However, poetry writing consciously for me started in Abuja, Nigeria sometime in 2006



Question:

At times, people write poems and we think it doesn't look like one, WHAT IS THE RUDIMENT OF POETRY, SIR? What makes a work a good poem?




Reply:

 Every beginner poetry writer doesn't see his or her poem as a poem until encouraged to do so. Meanwhile, the rudiments of poetry writing rests on the consciousness and ability of the poet to deploy poetic features or devices as some would want to address it.




Question:

Wow! Thanks for that concise answer Sir.

_To finally drive the point home, Sir, what is/are the chief POETIC DEVICE OR FEATURES one can employ in one's work to make it meet up with the qualitative works?_




Reply:

Talking on poetic features and those to use, I will simply say they come handy depending on situations. Meanwhile, all are ok. None should be deliberately recommended.

Question:

How well can a page poet win a poetry slam? What are the important steps to take Sir




Reply:

 Every slam/poetry challenge has its rules or guidelines. Poetry reading isn't poetry performance. A page poet as you want to call it, has the chance if the rules are so spelt out in such a way that the page poet would be considered differently. Meanwhile, I page poet could win if he performs his poem like a performance poet. A slam is a poetry challenge demonstrated on stage.



Question:

What are the necessary imageries and figure of speech to be used in a poetically written prose



Reply:

 None recommends poetic features or devices. As earlier mentioned, they are deployed as at when necessary. Poetically written prose is a prose work written brevity; conscious of embellishing it with poetic features. In this case, reading the work would tell any reader that, it was not just a prose work, it was one carefully written to prove a solid point for creativity. Don't forget that, poetry is the heart of art.


It's not a compulsion to have a Pen name. Personally, I dislike it. I want my name to be me, and me till eternity.


Eradicating plagiarism is likened to eradicating corruption. Not possible. We can only check against it or work towards reducing it. How do we do this? The writer should always sign off his or her work. And keep good records of drafts in such a way that, they could be easily retrieved in evidence.


Which platform do you desire that you are not getting? This is a wild remark. Look out for platforms. They are all over and non debars you from making the best use of them.

I'M MANY THINGS SAYS BM DZUKOGI DURING HIS INTERVIEW WITH COL MEDIA

Col media:

It a huge privilege having you here sir. Briefly introduce yourself
and tell us the full meaning of BM.




BM Dzukogi:

 Thanks. I am sitting with friends in Jigawa attending Nuga prelims.
There are a total of 19 universities here. Sport is one part of me. I
studied PHE at ABU. We are ahead of you, naturally. This is the
meaning of my name: Baba Muhahammad Dzukogi. Born 65, in Bida, Niger
State. Another part of me is creative writing. I guess I have about 10
tittles. When people see me, they think I am a Sheikh. I am not.




Col media:

Briefly describe your wife sir.




BM Dzukogi:

My wife, with all sense of humility, is the most popular female
preacher in Niger state. I am many things. I just mentioned two, a
while ago.




Col media:

Tell us some of your achievements




BM Dzukogi:

I am a teacher, Principal Sports Officer, IBB University, Lapai. In
Arts Administration, I am responsible for some big art events and
programmes in Niger and Nigeria. I am the draughtsman of the Annual
Schools Carnival of Arts and Festival of Songs (ASCAFS). It has run
since 1995 non-stop. I am the draughtsman for NBA International
Colloquium. Soyinka attended one. Odia did one Pius Adesanmi did one.
Nigerian Writers Series of ANA is me. No apology for saying it. Teen
Authorship of ANA is me. Minna Literary Series is me. And now the
NIFESTEENA! So, I am an art administrator.




Col media:

Sir, tell us a bit about NIFESTEENA, Nigeria Festival for Teen Authors.



BM Dzukogi:

 Nigerian Festival of Teen Authors. It's starting April 20, 2017. Sec.
Schs are coming to compete in poetry and story writong,
painting,photography, spoken word, poetry performance. They are coming
from around the country under Hill-Top Foundation.

This is the maiden edition. We are 'notorious' for teen authorship. In
2016 alone, we published 10. We are completing it to 13 before
Nifesteena. The gov. is presenting them on 23rd April. But senior guys
are coming to watch. I love to philosophise. I have a book of my
quotations -seclusion

 I have two poetry collections. One short story. Two essays including,
Sex is Beautiful, Three children's story.





Col media:

Are your family writers, tell us about them.






BM Dzukogi:

 Wife has one poetry book. My son has four poetry books

 My daughter has one poetry book, I am talking about published ones only.

 Saddiq, my son, is on the Brunel Poetry Prize shortlist, 2017. He is
fanatical about poetry.



Col media:

Sir tell UA extremely the negative sides of  Nigerian youth to be adjusted.





BM Dzukogi:

 Nigerian youths annoy me too much. They are incapable of redeeming
Nigeria. Extremely docile and petty like their fathers and mothers.


 People forge certificates, loot, and all they do is to laugh. They
know not the meaning of nation- building, service, and they understand
what it means to be human.

 They too are stealing and looting their student organisations. They
shamelessly ethnic and over religious like their elders to the point
of losing their senses.

So, nothing is going to change. They going to inherit the poverty of
their fathers, the rot deposited by their mothers and the circle is
helpless continuous and degenerative.


 Community service and volunteerism are the redeeming elements of a
nation. If not because some people are volunteering to do good, the
world would have been moving backward.

 What retains the society is not just love but sharing what you have.
 They have the energy and the intellect but annoyingly docile. They
know not what powers they have. They know not what force they could
gather to dislodge those who hold them hostage. They know not that
they actually could refuse to follow the designs of political adults
and design theirs.

But you should know. Haven't you read the stories of other lands? How
they reclaimed their countries? See, you must rise. In one band, and
'chase those crazy bald heads, out of town'.





Col media:

 But what if we just think such techniques works only in advanced countries.
Where youths are taken more seriously.







BM Dzukogi:

 There you go! Advanced countries! 'Taken Seriously'.

Is it not annoying enough that they take you unserious to provoke you
exerting your seriousness. Elites and political elites do not thrown
rights to you because you need it. They do because you demanded for
it, vigorously.

Violence! Why are you thinking violence.?

Protest is not violence. Uprooting them at electoral process is not violence
 Nominating one of you to be governor and mobilising your folks to
achieve it doesn't require violence

 'Vigorously' means active participation or being logical proactive
Art is not imposition. Creativity is boundless. Let each operate
according to his inspiration. Practically, people pander towards where
the attention is.



Col media:

Thanks sir for your precious time.




BM Dzukogi:

Thanks We just left Dutse NYSC camp for our lodge. Is there any NYSC
camp that is as beautiful as that of Jigawa, at all? None I believe.

WHEN GOING TO MINNA SEEMS GOING TO MILLAN(a poem by Sunsampaul Egwu)

With the 'hoos and the haas'
That eloped from the park,
That made Lagos bid me goodbye,
With her elongated hands and outstretched neck.

The loneliness in OOO route
Is tantamount to that of cemetery,
When passing Ogun, Oyo and Osun seems quiet
And the only voices heard are the lamentations of the wind.

Getting to Illorin
Where vehicles stopped at every five minutes
Just for road checkup
By Police men, soldiers and custom officers.

This journey is not a Virgin,
This journey is not on her period
Going to Minna seems going to Millan,
Where road side snacks are costly than t.fare.

Getting to sokoto route,
You'll be tempted to check your shokoto,
To see if your patience has fallen,
For this journey is for only the brave.

©Sunsampaul Egwu Philosopher
Sunsampaul4globe@gmail.com
+2348180861170
20:04:2017
08:22pm

LONELY ROAD(a poem by Sunsampaul Egwu)

Upon this road,
Noises were lost in mistiness,
The wind screaming amidst dancing trees;
Were journey dined with day and night.

Flash light from running vehicles chanting 'give way, give way,'
Bushes gossiping in a low tune.
A journey that seems unending,
A journey feeding on a lonely road.

Upon this road,
I drew close to Chad,
Even though my face look sad;
I still keep hope alive,
For I've a brighter life.

Even when darkness enveloped the road,
And when heavy wind slapped my face;
I still focused my direction to my destination,
For this lonely road has served me dinner.

©Sunsampaul Egwu Philosopher
Sunsampaul4globe@gmail.com
+2348180861170
20:04:2017
07:53pm