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Otubelu Chinazom Chukwudi is the winner of the March 2019 edition of the monthly Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest (BPPC) which was themed “RHYME FOR CHILDREN”.
Otubelu is a Nigerian poet from Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State. The engineering graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has received several literary awards. He has previously won the BPPC three times: February 2018, August 2017, and May 2016, and was runner-up of the 2016 and 2018 editions of the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP).
The serial BPPC winner’s 27-line rhyming poem, ‘SLEEP, SLEEP’ edged ‘SHALL WE SWEAR?’ by Ololade Akinlabi Ige to second place while Emmanuel Faith, who was the 1st-Runner-Up in the last edition, moved one spot down to Third place for his poem ‘LIKE BABIES’.
Below is the winning poem:
SLEEP, SLEEP by Otubelu, Chinazom Chukwudi
Sleep, sleep, child of the world, sleep!
The tender stars are about to peep.
Close your eyes, snore gently and rest,
Sniffing the warm embers of mummy's breast.
Dream of the sun and dream of the moon,
Dream of tomorrow, of glory and swoon.
Mumble humble prayers with thy infant lips,
For nights shall no more steal the joy of mummy's hips.
Sleep, sleep, child of the world, sleep!
Daddy's sword is about to creep
Beyond the enemy's bloodthirsty shield,
That his glorious victory may yield
Hope of a new dawn upon thy face,
And thy feet shall fare fair in the coming race.
Dream of the future in the mouth of the sky!
Spread thy young wings, flutter and fly!
Sleep, sleep, child of the world, sleep!
The days of despair shall melt and weep
Like soldiers mourning the spoils of war.
The sky shall tremble and the rains shall pour
Streams of living waters to fill thy broken cup.
Dream not of wild dogs, but of a tender, charming pup
Sucking gold trinkets in the stead of blistered bone.
Dream of tomorrow, of raging fire and brimstone!
Sleep, sleep, child of the world, sleep!
Dream big, plan big, grow big!
And let these words of mine mould you into shape!