I was a voracious reader as a child .....
It was my way of escaping......
Escaping the drudgery of chores.......
Escaping the pain of school politics......
Escaping the weight of parental expectations......
Escaping the helplessness of being a child.....
Escaping the frustrations that came with being a daughter.....
Escaping the hopelessness of wanting the unobtainable....
Just escaping!
I read good books... I read bad books.....
I read books every child should read...
I read books no child should read...
I just read.... until the day I picked up 'Things Fall Apart'
Here was an author, who used words......
Like a hungry lover devours his woman - voraciously.
Here was an author, who created characters........
That took up residence in one's brain - indefinitely.
Here was an author, who used words....
I could taste and smell - completely.
Here was an author, who painted stories.......
That would rival any masterpiece - absolutely.
I have read good books, I have read bad books...
I have read books everyone should read
I have read books that frankly, should not have been written
But nothing has moved me as much as the words that came from him.
Today, I shed a tear
For the passing of an icon
I shed a tear because he is gone
I shed a tear because he died far from home
I shed a tear because his beloved country is still a 'potential great'
I shed a tear because we have lost a great man
I shed a tear because yet 'another great' has left us
Rest in peace, Chinua Achebe
You live forever......
Your Okonkwo lives...
Your Obi lives...
Your Ezeulu lives...
Your Beatrice lives...
Your Chike lives...
Your legacy lives..............
Thank you for coming into my life..
I know you live!
Picture Credit: Chinua Achebe in 1960 Photograph: Eliot Elisofon/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images Source:Guardian
Chinua Achebe: 'grandfather of African fiction'. Photograph: Craig Ruttle/AP. Source: Guardian
Chinua Achebe: 'grandfather of African fiction'. Photograph: Craig Ruttle/AP. Source: Guardian
Yay! she is back ooo...ekabo sistah mi!
ReplyDeleteKnow off to read :D
Yes! A Legend has departed from our realm to be with our creator. Leaving behind his legacy.
ReplyDelete7 gun-salute shots to you sir!
Rest in the bossom of our FATHER, sir.
It hurts to see you go, but you came, saw and conquered as you were destined to, and it is time to bow out and give an account of the talents our father bestowed unto you.
You name would be immortalized for generations yet unborn.
How can I forget Things fall apart? The first Africa literature book I read, captivated me, then watching Okonkwo in Tv was the icing of the cake that immortalize the story in head. How can I forget Ikemefuna sir, I could feel the passion of love and hurt in the written words....oh sir. You are truly gifted by blessed by GOD.
Adieu sir.
Indeed he lives on. Things Fall Apart and the others were great books.
ReplyDeleteI never thought the day would come when he would no longer be here. Chinua Achebe was not supposed to die. I still can't believe he is gone.
ReplyDelete"Today, I shed a tear
ReplyDeleteFor the passing of an icon ~
I shed a tear because he is gone
I shed a tear because he died far from home
I shed a tear because his beloved country is still a 'potential great'
I shed a tear because we have lost a great man
I shed a tear because yet 'another great' has left us"
This section sums it all up for me. RIP Great man!
I loooooooooooove the poem so much. The line that got me: " escaping the frustrations of being a daughter" hmmm key. R.I.P chinua Achebe. www.secretlilies.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYes he lives... The legacy continues and his books will forever continue to be great. Such a great legend he was... May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
ReplyDeleteYou've been missed dearly, welcome back! Best wishes.
Nice eulogy to Pa Achebe. I'm sad too that he died far away from home. The only consolation is that his family were there with him. His spirit lives on. Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteCan't even see my type pad clearly. You brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteSuch a touching tribute to a truly great man. RIP Sir Chinua Achebe.
ReplyDelete@Prism, it still feels weird to refer to him in the past tense
ReplyDeleteWelcome back NIL! Blogville misses you
He will be missed. I pray the new generation of Nigerian writers can reach his height and show our greatness to the world.
ReplyDeleteREADING was the fastest way to dream
ReplyDeleteand to see another world and how people live...
It taught me about others since I was pretty sheltered
I still love reading today because it is a way to cause change.
RIP Sir
ReplyDeletehttp://trendysturvs.blogspot.com/
What a touching tribute to a literary icon. Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease are two of his books that I read quite early. May his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteIn deed Chinua Achebe has really influenced many through his powerful literary works. I could remember reading Things Fall Apart and many of his books while in secondary school it was very great... www.Naijabizcom.com
ReplyDelete