Beyond this sight
Above these words
Farther than thoughts
Outside of time
For all that is sight
There are always words
And within us, thoughts
All are within time
Eyes that can see
Mouths that can speak
Minds that can think
All beyond now
For all that we see
Those words that we speak
And thoughts that we think
All are of the now
JUDGE PROFILE
Francis Attah Egu is a Nigerian who has never left the shores of his country, though he works hard every day to be read within and outside of it. He is Igala and hails from Ukwaja in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Born on the 12th of October in 1982, he is the third in a Catholic family of three other siblings born of Lady Catherine Egu to Bro. Samuel Attah Egu.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Englsih from Usamnu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he later obtained a Master of Arts degree in English.
Soon, he begins a Doctor of Philosophy in English at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
He is single but responsibly in a relationship with ‘Era.
POETIC JOURNEY
Writing for 4ran6, as he writes Francis, began at Federal Government College Kwali-Abuja sometime in 1998 due to the influence of one of his friends, Bappah Michika; an exceptional writer of love letters and philosophical writings.
Ever since, it’s been a steady progress that led to being shortlisted for the Chimamanda Creative Writers’ Workshop organized by the Abuja Writers’ Forum in 2010, after initial entries of short stories across Nigeria.
He always returns to poetry, writing through that form of art that teaches discipline like no other. He writes within or outside of conventional structures, but always with a message; philosophical in nature. Like a Libra that he is, he sees the society on a scale, writing such truths in words so terse.
He is the author of The Receiving Earth, an anthology of poems published in 2012. Presently, he is working on AnimoCity, a collection of short stories and a spoken word album in collaboration with Deborah Renee to be recorded in the United States soon.
He can be followed on Twitter: @4ran6 or read on Facebook via www.facebook.com/4ran6
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The Eriata Oribabhor Poetry Prize (EOPP) grows bigger and bigger every year; the 2013 contest has seen a growth in prize-money and followership, thanks to the founder and #WRRPoetry.
The entries were a mixture of carefully and hurriedly written poems; poetry like every other art never should be rushed or forced.
Some of the poems were very good and filled with great messages; ‘My Voice’, the winning entry for instance, alluringly strings words using comparisons and repetition to appeal to thought: ‘This voice is a widower/Whose dear wife is Nigeria.’ The poet’s use of language leaves so little to be desired; so great were his enjambments… Madu Chisom KingDavid, a name that wouldn’t vanish in a hurry; I hope.
So good was the rivalry provided by Soonest Iheanyi Nathaniel’s ‘We too Shall Plant Trees’ and Julius Bokoru’s ‘Letter to my Unborn’ as they came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Hopefully, next year would be better; so great was the opportunity to serve.
Related articles
- Eopp2013: the Winners (wordsrhymesandrhythm.wordpress.com)
- Overtaken (wordsrhymesandrhythm.wordpress.com)
- Letter to My Unborn (wordsrhymesandrhythm.wordpress.com)
- My Voice (wordsrhymesandrhythm.wordpress.com)
- The Anxieties of a Widow (wordsrhymesandrhythm.wordpress.com)
