Great Mother Poem by Tony-Cemaluk Egbuonu

Great mother of mothers, most memorable,
Mother of Festac-like festivals;
Of astute kings from old to new, all nebulous;
Of great warriors, the likes of the retaliators.

Mother of prosperous farmers, the humbler
That humbled the White tax collector to slumber
With a cup, only, of undiluted up-wine/palm-wine;
Of brave explorers that leg-benzed to Port Harcourt
And left, on leaving, mementoes of the mother.

Mother of young pilots, the unsung heroes
That, without even a hanger, perched
As an elephant eagle, on your soil;
Of acclaimed poets, the Labyrinth, oh Idoto,
And Ideoto again.

U.I. trio cum trio up-wine, calabash or glass
Tumbler debate?
Don't let him die without farewell to Idoto.

Mother of frontline Economists,
White man but in black skin;
Pacific institution, taller than Everest;
Of truth-defending sons, proud being your scion.
Life sacrificed defending truth.

Mother of renowned Agronomists;
Africa's agricultural wizard,
The baritone-voiced guru, in tune with nature;
Of up and coming sons;
Men of the people, kowtowing to conquer
At the sight of light at tunnels' end.

Mother of mothers so strong-willed;
Bridged, surpassed woman to man gap.
Unassisted widowed mother of he that is
With what is mightier than the swords.

Mother of mothers, Ojoto;
Great mother of mothers, mostly dear.