Poetry: Idoto by Christopher Okigbo

Before you, mother Idoto,
         naked I stand,
before your watery presence,
          a prodigal,

leaning on an oilbean;
lost in your legend...


Under your power wait I am on barefoot,
Watchman for the watchword at
         HEAVENGATES;

out of the depths my cry
give ear and hearken.

Read the poem - CASUALTIES by J. P. Clark here


                     About the poet.

Christopher Okigbo was born in Photo in  Eastern Nigeria in 1932. Since taking a degree in classics in Ibadan University, he has worked in various situations, including that of Representative for Cambridge University  press in Nigeria.
A lively  conventionalist, he has a capacity for shifting quickly from topic to topic. He is also a voracious reader and his reading has deep influences on his poetry. His publication includes Heavensgate, The Limits and Other Poems, and other poem sequence in journals.  (Bibliography via WEST AFRICAN VERSE. An anthology chosen and annotates by Donatus. I. Nwoga)