Adieu, Prof. J. P. Clark!
The old pen that smiles to flow,
Smiles when the atmosphere is pleasant for the cherished ones.
The old pen that flows and breathes fire on those that become thorns on the flesh of the cherished.
The pen wrote like endlessly,
Triumphantly,
And firmly,
On the affairs of the nation,
On the affairs of the region,
On the affairs of the downtrodden
-the injured, the marginalized
On the path of fairness
As the system in Nigeria crams into the mouths of many that are smiling and suffering;
The pen that talks until the last drop leaves a significant message for all:
Life continues after decades on the the earth,
But one's history goes to the library of information.
And good finders find what they can see or want;
Users focus on want to see,
And people appreciate what they like that the pen wrote or did.
Critics make reference as they unfold their thoughts -all about the pen.
They inject their feelings based on their angles:
Pleasant or otherwise.
So the story of every mortal shall be.
The pen that frowns at injustice,
If there is injustice on your new path;
Clarion call along the path
Either in or in motion set you're.
In space you're standing gallantly in transit.,
The big spirit, smart one towering over the land
The fountain you've left
The mouths of many wet it has and will;
Many bundles, tons of knowledge to the world you will!
To the world you've given!
The pen stops at the time when its ink should say more.
Its last breath on the paper and in politics,
Across the nation of nations and among peoples of the nation of nations
The giant pen turns decades into a formidable shape,
To the admiration of those who know its worth,
To the condemnation of those who do not see value in justice.
Giant among giants!
Chief among chiefs!
Scholar among scholars!
Scholar among scholars!
J. P. Clark,
Gone, but never
Your scholarly and developmental contributions like green trees.
Your part you played, and played well as the system demanded.
The giant tree, adieu!
Gone, but very much around.
A little step into the house,
Forget not, J. P. Clark!
Poet among poets,
Scholar among scholars;
A little step to oversee and shower peace on the ground.
You left at a time when Nigeria is boiling,
But rest in peace!
Adieu, J. P. Clark!
Wine and dine well in the new abode,
But never eat dirt food,
Never taste dirty drink,
Chief, you are,
A good taste you've.
Continue to write
As you sojourn to the next level -the path that no one can dodge,
Keep one message for Ken Saro Wiwa:
"You did not die in vain;
The wicked makes your name to shine every second,
Like gold it shines,
Like gold it'll continue to shine, Ken Saro Wiwa.
But never will the name of your killer shine
No matter how may gallons
of polish the beneficiaries
of his wickedness use
to make
him look good!
Enjoy your journey home, J. P. Clarke
Adieu, great Nigerian!
Great Deltan!
Bayo Omolola
On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 06:11:45 PM EDT, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com> wrote:
May he travel well
On Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 13:57 Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:
--A note to me:
ANNOUNCEMENT!
The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce that Emeritus Professor of Literature and Renowned Writer, Prof. John Pepper Clark, has finally dropped his pen in the early hours of today, Tuesday, 13 October, 2020.
Prof. J. P. Clark has paddled on to the great beyond in comfort of his wife, children and sibbling, around him.
The family appreciates your prayers at this time.
Other details will be announced later by the family.
Signed:
Prof. C. C. Clark, for the family.
Mr. Ilaye Clark, for the children.
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