Cries and Laughter

In the poem, "The Road Not Taken", Robert Frost tells us about a crossroad where he makes a critical decision to take a particular road and leave the other road. Through his poetry, Robert reminds us about a particular point in our lives when we need to make the decision that will take us to the next level in our lives. The poem tells us to choose the road "less traveled by" against the seemingly beautiful and popular road that leads nowhere. Like the poet persona, our students have gotten to their crossroads. They have gotten to the very crossroad of destiny.  They need to grab the bull by the horns and make decisions that are devoid of juvenile shenanigans in a bid to help them become important men and women in society.  WAEC, NECO and JAMB are here again. They need to make important decisions as to whether to sit up or not to situp for their senior secondary school examinations. We believe that our esteemed students will toll the path that The Embodiment of Love ...

And darkness of the night came upon us From where the light had kept it Everywhere became blacky black So black, we could not see our forms Adults anathematized Children cried for their fears had come upon them The room became strange and mystic Everyone stretched out their hands to feel the air Like a group of blind men walking without walking-sticks Colliding and jamming, pressing and trampling  Falling and stumbling, injuring and grimacing. And darkness of the night came upon us Its dolours stole our colours Adults anathematized Children cried cacophonously Crescendoing as they fell and rose in the womb of darkness Kerosene lamp had been played away with during their noon-play This darkness, so dark, flogged the imps for their awful plays. And darkness of the night came upon us So strong and so dark The blood of the lamp had been spilled It was but a carcass on its stand We reached for the windows, spread the thick curtains sideways And the silvery moon smiled and sa...

Sometimes in 2011, I taught in one of the tutorial centers somewhere in Egan. After my class, I decided to have a conversation with some students. During the conversation, I discovered that they were students of Igando Community Senior High School. This knowledge got me interested in these teenage girls. I asked about their school. They began to paint Our school in a bad light. They called the school so many unprintable names. While they were talking, I kept quiet. Just listening to them. They said students always fail in that school. When they were done talking, I asked if the girls knew each other very well. They said yes. Then I asked the girls, one after the other this question, "If you set questions for your friend, do you think she will pass." The first girl said no with emphasis. The second girl was sarcastic in her response. She said, "eleyi o ni pass. Oko lo ma ndo kiri". We laughed over her response. Afterwards, I then ask them, "Do you th...

Dramatis personae Instructor Student 1,2, and 3. King Herod Chief 1,2,3 and 4 Magus 1,2 and 3 Mary  Joseph Baby Chief priest Acolyte 1 and 2 Tribal leaders Slaves People Slave master Freeborn Masquerades Dancers Executioners Palace guards Prologue (Light reveals the students. They are waiting for their instructor to come.) Student 1: The world will be a better place if we all live our lives doing good things. The education in human values is all that we need. Student 2: The Education in human values exemplifies the life of Jesus. Student 3: Jesus Christ has helped us to change the world.  Student 1: What was the world like before the coming of Jesus Christ? Student 2: I don't know.  Student 3: I don't know either. Student 1: I need to know. Thank God we have EHV now. (The teacher enters. The students greet) Student 1: What was the world like before the coming of Jesus Christ? Instructor: Hmm. A very big question. The world was… (Flashback) Light out. Act One, ...

I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I  Did, till we loved? Were we not weaned till then?  But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?  Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers’ den? ’Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be. If ever any beauty I did see,  Which I desired, and got, ’twas but a dream of thee.  And now good-morrow to our waking souls,  Which watch not one another out of fear;  For love, all love of other sights controls,  And makes one little room an everywhere.  Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,  Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown,  Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one.  My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,  And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;  Where can we find two better hemispheres,  Without sharp north, without declining west?  Whatever dies, was not mixed equally;  If our two loves be one, or, thou and I  Love so alike, that ...

Give a man a horse he can ride, Give a man a boat he can sail; And his rank and wealth, his strength and health, On sea nor shore shall fail. Give a man a pipe he can smoke Give a man a book he can read: And his home is bright with a calm delight, Though the room be poor indeed. Give a man a girl he can love, As I O my love, love thee; And his heart is great with the pulse of fate, At home, on land, on sea. James Thompson (1834 - 1882)