In Children Of The Sun, Bello tackles innocence, hope

Poetry in Nigeria, no doubt, is going through another period of renaissance. Since the late General Sani Abacha’s era, there has not been a period of ‘poetic outpourings’ as this, when writers denounced government’s high handedness through poetry and satires.

From the dramatic to narrative, lyrical to spoken word, poetry runs through the tapestry of lots of the country’s creative evocation.

The style of these poems may not be reminiscent of the highly structured thematic organisation of the 1970s and 80s, however, they are natural and rhythmical. The different collections remain constant touchstones of the millennial.

Akinola Bello’s collection, Children of the Sun, is not a radically committed piece of literature; it is, however, literarily engaging. The confidence deployed is such that ramps contemplation of the lines. He doesn’t use any strict metre or rhyme scheme, in fact, he doesn’t pretend about his love for bland verse. They in fact, leave the reader with moments of ‘poetic supplication’.

In 62 soul-searching movements, which captures pains, sorrows, tears and joy (PSTJ) of humanity.

The collection is one that you pick for answers to challenges confronting humanity, as it tackles every issue you can imagine, especially in a world with troubled ethos.

The collection defies categorisation, and so, operates in a boundless space. Thus, the thematic construct is vast, varied and ungraspable. Jokingly, it can be described as a ‘miscellaneous collection ala Don Paterson’s The Arctic.

The poems are short and they remind readers of man’s beautiful nature and the environment. They touch on the sweetness of human experience when they feel loved and the equal emotions when life hits hard on them.

The collection also explores the effects that human decisions can have on fellow humans.

Some of the poems include, Ękúulé, How I Wonder! Pangaea, The Sun, Seven Colours, Sun and Moon, In The Dark, Who Deserves A Dance? She, Remorse, One Day and others.

The collection begins in a celebratory mood with the poem, Ękúulé. The poet celebrates coming of age. He fuses innocence and birth.

A free verse, it does not attempt to rhyme or construct the minds of the readers with conventions.

Like the sung in a new born baby’s mouth, he breathes a joyous homecoming.

Ękú ilé o
the song sang by the wall gecko
on its arrival into the house
it sees shelter in
its palm spreads silently
waiting for a soul to say
ekú àbò
Ękú ilé o

It concludes that no matter how unpleasant you imagined your visit, the world is there to bid or say to you welcome.

The collection tackles everything from nature to artifice. The varied themes subject the reader to enjoy the movement. With verses that are simple and alluring, the poet bids the readers to enjoy its movement in cadence.

The author is confident and roves in deep, inexhaustible and boundless space to find the words, The poem evokes the feeling of de javu. This is best captured in How I Wonder! He uses repetition to ignite this movement.

The beauty of nature
well, I often wonder
struck with awe, at the expanse of the sea…

In Pangaea, he preaches peace and harmony. It reminds the reader that everybody is from the same ‘nature womb’, black, white, red or brown.
We fit together like a jigsaw puzzle

In One Day, the transient nature of man is interrogated. The poet concludes that one day everything will fall in place.

The poems inspire readers to develop strength in character to forgive when wronged, to stand up and be strong in the face of challenges, and to see that the world is a beautiful place. It is definitely a good collection for poetry miners.