House Of Symbols. Poem by John Chizoba Vincent

this is the house we were made.
a house papa and mama's colors joined together.
we have the map of this building in our palms,
we could not allow it to exile us like the tortoise
who exiled its shell in times of trouble to the unknown.
we grew around its brokenness and shame.
we cuddled her in days of tears and laughter!
we defended its territories jealously from the whites.
those broken clays are for grandmother's bravery.
she fought gallantly like a gladiator during the civil war.
those skulls are the enemies of the family whom Okonkwo
slayed before the sun learned to journey west.
those trees are the numbers of children in the household,
the Ugba tree represent Kambili, the wisest of all.
the Iroko represent Okonkwo, the last of the strong ones.
I am the obeche, Chioma is the Hibiscus down there;
Ifunanya, is the palm tree on top of that hill…
and others are those green grasses spread in the courtyard.
we have seen season come and go like the moon,
we grew with the fragments of this clay walls running
as if tomorrow is crafted in our palms to love.
the horse on top of the house is the strength that uphold our dignity,
those Eagles standing side by side of the house
are the power of greatness before the earth.
this y- axis is the perfect division of nature
and the green grasses are of fertility and prosperity.
we grew around this fearless deity watching
Papa pour libation with smiling lips…
Disney is of no world compare to ours in heart,
Titanic was never a better place to be when our house stand.
many have written of this great edifice with empathy,
this is our home, a house made of many symbols.


© John Vincent Artistry
For: Film Republic Pictures.