Ode to Alhazai – by @AliyuBalaAliyu
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Effects that great names possess aren’t obscure
One Alhaji and yet another Alhaji gives two sure
But Alhazai is one; great his name as is his honour
Such singular plurality quite evident an as armour
A gentleman named great by his forbears
And so too to attain greatness without fears
The ancient walls of Kano their might did show
Her city gates flung wide open welcomed all to know
Heared you of Kofan na’isa and Gadon Kaya?
And others like Kofan Nassarawa and Kofan mata?
Behold the ancient Kano city walls so great
Shadows of groundnut pyramids of past
Bespoke greatness; and so it was with Alhazai
Defied he the thunderous storms of the day
In chilly harmattans his dreams didn’t freeze
Nor in the scorching sun would his goals cease
The viscidities of life diminished him not
His humble beginnings he surely never forgot
At his service these lines are written
How my pleasure to grant his wish as a token
To read his poem with his own eyes
His thoughts not vanished in the sands
And not of others when he shall have become dust
“I want to read mine before I die” he had expressed
And thus set the inkpots aflow like rivers
And the reed pens he set dancing on plain blanks
With the smacking of keyboards night and day
Alhazai your days shall be long I pray
Your days of service are sure not yet over
Blessed, your memories’ll linger forever
The early morning dew your name still spells
On the petals of lovely roses, tulips and lilies
I have seen them so resplendent
Charmed by the sweetness of their scent
Their lingering fragrance will never fade
The four winds will carry them everywhere heard
Far beyond your thought and very sight
Your years of friendship we all shall cherish
As your wont, dull moments lighten up afresh
Let your words of wisdom inspire the world
The bumps abound but sure you’re bold
Humour’s a prescription you seldom miss
Teasers and banters their paths we’d cross
The rainbows are out with your name in the sky
Baban Sumayya , the birds sing in my ears as they fly
Sonorous melodies tickle my ears and they enthrall
The end shall be far; your life shall be full
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Aliyu Bala Aliyu
Lagos
January 01, 2013
email: [email protected]
blog: www.illuminationzz.wordpress.com
Twitter: @AliyuBalaAliyu
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