Ken Ugwu

The poem “Alvan Boy” depicts the harsh realities facing Nigerian students as a result of infrastructural deficits on campus. The Alvan Boy, which represents a student in a dilapidated school hostel, is left to survive on the debris of a failed system where he faces myriad of problems like - water shortage, bed bugs, lack of power supply, among other things. The boy defies all odds to overcome his obstacles by resorting to help from the females at the Nkurumah hostel. He is “always ready to whistle and wink at Nkurumah queens” says the persona in line 38 of the poem.

“Chants of a Native Son” – a poem dedicated to a young lover’s village damsel. The persona beckons on the maiden to be the love of his life. He calls on his queen to “rise my beautiful princess / for I am waiting eagerly for you at the sand dune beside the / cyan flower river,” (lines 2-4). It ends with the persona’s longing to the lady to be his wife as signified by his “…wish to be the brave hunter in whose front [the maiden] shall kneel to give a cup of palm-wine” (lines 42-43).

Letter to Poetry is an engaging poem filled with questions from the persona who is a poet, to poetry. He talks about how poetry has engaged his heart.

In the short poem “Xeno,” there is a sharp exploration of the country’s lack of national consciousness and cohesion. What is prevalent is ethnic rivalry and bloodletting as seen in the line: “For even in my neighbourhood my wounds grow deeper in my brother’s hand” (4). The situation is seen as a war without end as the persona asks his mother to buy him “catapult” in place of “tangerine.” Consequently, the persona is doomed as he loses the comfort of a peaceful home/nation.

Odim Hills talks about the beauty of the landscape the Odim Hill in the University town of Nsukka. A soft green hills that present a lot of memories to the persona each time he sees it.

The Mamba's Mindset is a poem dedicated to Kobe Bryant. Here the Persona unveils his great admiration for this basketballer. He describes Kobe as a legend on and off the pitch. The persona tells the people on the need to discover themselves and believe in themselves like Kobe did, that will be an avenue for their greatness too.

Epiphany is the eighth poem in the poetry collection of Overman and other realities. It is a poem manifestation and seeing of salvation by the persona, despite the thought he wasn't qualified to get such.

Ezechitoke is the seventh poem in the poetry collection of Overman and other realities. It is a ritual poem where the persona questions his creator about his thoughts and purpose in this life.

Yellow Rays is the sixth poem in the poetry collection of Overman and other realities. It emphasizes on what growing up is in the typical street of Nigeria. The challenges, hardship and the aspirations of the young ones who strive to achieve their great dreams.

The “Dream Preacher” delves into the using menace of suicide incidents, in the contemporary society. The poem x-rays the case of Chukwuemeka Akachi – a young, industrious, intelligent and promising scholar whose life was cut short when he took his own life on account of existential questions. The poem ends with a note of plea to individuals to “say no to suicide” (line 41).