Yahaya Michael Bolakale

Isokan our ancestor

Why did u desert us suddenly?

In the snare of our foes

You left us to our captors

Your catheists are our maxims

Day and night we toil at your shrines

Our tongues pronounce your panegyrics

Your heroics are our eulogies

Yet dirge has known our tongues

Here we are before thee

Helpless, naked and needy

Where goes thy face

Your succor is our desire

About the Poet: Yahaya Michael Bolakale is born on the 30th April, 1990,a  student of English at the prestigious University of Lagos, Isokan is a poem originally written when he was in secondary school but has undergone series of changes as the poet's knowledge advances.... He has written numerous {yet to be published} poems...

About the Poem: The poem centres on the consciousness of Nigeria unity which has been seriously questioned. A lot of vices have left it toils on the unity of this country. Amongst them are the bad political terrain, corruption, 1966 to 1970 Nigerian civil war, resurgence tribal killings in plateau state and some other parts of the north and recent terrorism activities of the sect tagged Boko Haram. Opines that the lost is a very important thing in unity as in death; we will always mourn forever.

Literary Analysis: The poem is an Ode. It is an address to a subject which in real sense not physical but assumed to possess the quality of living (i.e. personified). Isokan meaning unity in Yoruba language is  presumed to have died  untimely when it matters most. The poet's griefs  seriously for the loss considering a lot of challenges this country is going through at a time when its’ presence would have been greatly felt. Thus, there are no lips where the song of its absence is not eulogized. Mostly, people realize this looking at our political terrain. In fact, it would have been most worthy a solution to some of our problems in this nation  if we have had your presence. So, this is seriously regrettable upon all your praises on our lips. The poet, in line 1, addresses Isokan as our ancestor because without it this country would not have been known as Nigeria. Line 2 rhetorical question shows how not fair for the lost of the unity at this time in our history.And, the last line, ‘Your succor is our desire’ points clearly to the fact that the only way to solve our hardship and distress.

Language and Style: The language employed is emotional, regretful and pleading. It seems to the poet to see unity returning from its’ grave as personified. In fact, the poet makes use of metaphorical expression all through the lines. Meanwhile, stylistically, the poem is written in one verse with end rhyme pattern of abcccccccdbef. The rhythm is not really felt. Though, interestingly, the diction is simple as some of the lines are personification. Examples are in line 1,4,5,6,7,8,10,12 and 13 respectively. Above all the poem is direct, short, simple, sublime and easy to understand.

Theme:

Nostalgia for Unity.