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When leopards hunt
in the shadows of time,
my forefathers walked the dark with their spotted coats of courage,
their eyes like gleaming stars in a midnight forest,
and their silent predators.  

Eagles soared with knowledge atop mountain summits,
their feathers as crisp as the lines
murmured by ancient legends.  

They looked out at the world with alert eyes,
their wings spread wide like ancestral scrolls.  

Stories unfolded in paws and talons
strong through tangled woodlands
and sky-bound expanses;  Sketched on the canvas of history,
this dance of survival included unclear paths
highlighted by leaps and flights.  

I was taught that every stride
was a metaphor for perseverance.
The poem explores the themes of survival, heritage, and perseverance, using animal imagery to symbolize resilience and the connection between past and present. The speaker reflects on their ancestry and the lessons learned from nature about facing challenges.
You kept awake the embers of our clan
You were the breath that measured
the heart of our ethnic fire

Wherever you are, we miss you
Wherever you are, we love you

There are no more fires here
Our hearths were handed to predators
By those who became lords after you

Wherever you are, we miss you
Wherever you are, we remember you

(c) Nwafor Oji Awala
Ogale Eleme
Nigeria
Nov 2024
The central idea of "Tears for the Keeper" revolves around loss, remembrance, and the longing for a sense of belonging that has been disrupted. It reflects on the absence of a significant figure who upheld the values and traditions of a community, leading to a sense of grief and nostalgia.
I never walk alone
Son of my father
Blood of my ancestors
Careful as cat
Silent as snake
Brave as honey badger
Strong as polar bear

Blood of my ancestors
Son of my father
I never walk alone

(c) Nwafor Oji Awala
Ogale
2025
The poem centers around a deep connection with my ancestry.

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