Adieu Sire Poem by Alexander Onoja

He's a man of honour,
aged but bursting with humour.
He don't deserve a word but phrases,
the one who put smile on our faces.
He stood even when THINGS FALL APART,
his strength is measured by his heart.
He donned a string of fine degrees,
confined to a wheel chair, yet fought his disease.
His wheel is the highest chair,
there are more like him, but he is rare.
To me your name will never cease,
oh! Ogidi, may your soul rest in peace.


He's never bending to national pressure,
a man who predicts peace and brings hope to our future.
He rose in our country's hour of need,
and to the hungry, his literary works will feed.
Always with a smile, never with a frown,
a writer in whose presence, the prison walls came down.
He puts on the light in days of dark terror,
a great man who bow'd out with great honour.
Though being gentle, he speaks, he's bold,
his works are greater than silver and Gold.
Now he's gone, critics are NO LONGER AT EASE,
oh! Ogidi, may your soul rest in peace.


A great man always adorned on his favourite cap,
o please carry us on your sacred lap.
He was never an easy figure to offend,
he had the best laugh at the end.
'THERE WAS A COUNTRY' he cried,
he told the truth and left his grief aside.
Though he's far, his words we'd hear'd,
he climb'd the Iroko, a tree every one fear'd.
Only a child was i, yet still i recall,
sweetness, greatne, mention them, he had it all.
I stood feel'n your ascending breeze,
oh! Ogidi, may your soul rest in peace.

(Adieu Chinua Ogidi Achebe 1930-2013)