Chinua Achebe: A life lived in Collected poems, Novels and Short stories

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"Don't let him die" was my prayer to God when i heard you stood between the precipice of life and death

But now all those at "Home and Exile" will have to live with this great loss

Chinua Achebe! Mr. "Things fall apart" who never failed to impart

Chinua Achebe! Your great literary tree which stood mightily on the African landscape

Your wisdom was branches which gave respite and shade to the wandering African who in an era needed rediscovery

You showed us that "There Was a Country" and highlighted traditions; you thrilled us with your talent

Ikemefuna, Okwonko and Amalinze the cat became characters you placed in our minds eye though we never met them

You made literary warriors out of this generation because you gave us the "Arrow of God"

I remember when you took us on a tour to see the "Anthills of the Savannah"

Ohhh I remember that day! It was then that i realized you were a "Man of the People"

But now you are gone. You have climbed the ladder of death

You left unannounced. How can we be "No longer at ease"? Achebe how?

It is "Morning Yet on Creation Day" but this day chose to be your death day

We wish we could escort you along "Dead Men's Path" but it is a place we must all bid our time to go

Now that you are gone, we wish there will be "Another Africa" - an Africa that will have more "Hopes and less Impediments"

An Africa where "Vultures" will not scavenge what the imperialist plundered; and where "The Trouble With Nigeria" will be the concern of all its neighbours

Chief Achebe! Tears overflow the banks of our eyes and sooner or later it will stream down our faces like the mighty river Niger

"The Flute" you gave us still sounds but the song it makes now is one which breaks the heart and crushes the spirit of man

"The Drum" beat again this morning but the sound thereof was one which didn't announce another great feat by you

It gave a clarion call to all that you have gone to sit with the ancestors

And so together with all free people the world over, the "Refugee Mother and Child", we shall mourn your demise

Fare thee well great one. Your life was once lived, well captured in Collected Poems, novels and short stories

 By Felix Nana Egyir Baidoo

A tribute to Chinua Achebe ©

LixBaidoo@gmail.com