Christopher Okigbo (Hurrah For Thunder) Poem by African Poetry
Christopher Okigbo (Hurrah For Thunder)
WHATEVER happened to the elephant –
Hurrah for Thunder –
The elephant, tetrarch of the jungle:
With a wave of the hand
He could pull four trees to the ground;
His four mortar legs pounded the earth:
Wherever they treaded,
The grass was forbidden to be there.
Alas! the elephant has fallen –
Hurrah for thunder –
But already the hunters are talking about pumpkins:
If they share the meat let them remember thunder.
The eye that looks down will surely see the nose;
The finger that fits should be used to pick the nose.
Today-for tomorrow, today becomes yesterday:
How many million promises can ever fill a basket...
If I don’t learn to shut my mouth I’ll soon go to hell,
I, Okigbo, town-crier/ together with my iron bell.
Great depth in this poem, the elephant has always been a favorite of mine. Hated when they were killed for their ivory only, they are such special animals. Great poem! Thank you for sharing. RoseAnn
How many millions of promises can fill a basket? ? ? Great poem.
Beautiful, Okigbo lives on.... Hurrah for the thunder the Elephant has fallen at the blast of its rage... Great poem
may his soul rest in peace, okigbo was it for me, a poet without restraint
Poignant piece of poetry, well articulated and nicely brought forth with insight. Beautiful poem bristling with wisdom.
Fantastic poem. What a waste Okigbo, to die for a cause, lost even at the beginning.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/17/2024 6:27:19 AM # 1.0.0.1119
the elephant here is likened to the dictators in African brought down by higher 'forces', and those that are gathering like the hunter to share the loot should beware of 'thunder' for what killed the elephant will kill them..