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Ogunmolu Ebunoluwa Esther has won the August 2019 edition of the monthly Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest (BPPC) for young writers. The edition was themed ‘EXPRESS YOURSELF’.
The winning poem ‘MY WORLD’ is a beautifully poetized patchwork of cultural flashbacks and mementos. It beat ‘GENESIS’ by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe and ‘POTPOURRIS OF MEMORIES‘ by Akor Agada Nathaniel to 2nd and 3rd place finishes respectively.
Ogunmolu, a linguist and writer from the historic Idanre town, Ondo state, Nigeria. She studied English and Literary Studies at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State and is currently serving the nation as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Below is the winning poem:
MY WORLD by Ogunmolu Ebunoluwa Esther
As I dive down memory lane,
I ponder the syzygy of "MY WORLD"
Where Forty children and Five wives
Roam in archaic abode.
As I pass, I hear the cacophony of my ancient mortals
pounding a soft, stainless starch…
Oh! It’s moon time!
"Papa", tell me more about
The Inquisitiveness of Tortoise
and the fury of Ogun,
Or the monarchical tyranny
and reigns of egocentric juggernauts…
I recall
the Soro and Buba flirting
towards Bata dance.
The ups and downs of
Unified ways.
Hmm! What a world,
a two-sided coin
bringing pain and gain
And a lasting fortress!