SprinNG
  • Publications
    • Anthologies >
      • ETB Anthology
      • AEAnthology
      • WAD Anthology
      • CBS Anthology
      • 2020 Why I Write
      • 2019 Why I Write
    • Interviews
    • Book Reviews
  • Submit
    • Submit to Us
    • Nigerian Writers Database
  • Fellowship
    • Writing Fellowship
    • Advancement Fellowship
  • Contests
    • Monthly Bookstore Gift-card
    • Annual Poetry Contest
    • SWAP >
      • SWAP 2022 Winners
      • SWAP 2021 Winner
      • SWAP 2020 Winner
  • SprinNG Lit
  • Services
    • Resume/CV Editing Services
    • Cover Letter Editing
    • Bio/Personal Statement Editing
  • Donate
  • About
    • Annual Report
    • Quicklinks

Mother Saw Her Shadow in My Eyes

1/5/2022

37 Comments

 
Excerpt from an upcoming collection by Obiageli A. Iloakasia titled Kàmbíl
Picture
mother cries on days I challenge you.
she says that my rants are bad songs
that never pleases the king’s ears
and my stone face,
a scarecrow that sends men away.
 
when I cry out for freedom,
she says my freedom songs
remind her of the Mau Mau Uprising
and sometimes, Mandela’s quest
for freedom in South Africa.
one day, I took my bags
and left home to find a better haven
or something like it.
 
before I walked out of the door,
mother looked into my eyes
and screamed in fright.
 
in my eyes, she saw her shadow
and feared that this fate would forever
be mine and that of many others, unborn.
Picture
Writer’s Biography
Obiageli A. Iloakasia is a Nigerian Poet, Storyteller, Literary/Social Critic, and Freelance Editor, amongst other things. She explores diverse aesthetic forms in her writings as she attempts to capture contemporary issues in Africa and beyond. Her short book, "Twitter Street," was unveiled in January 2021 and was well accepted by readers. Obiageli's poems and short stories have also appeared on several platforms, gaining her series of commendations from her audience. Her debut poetry collection titled "October Blues" delves into the heart of the EndSARS protest. In addition, it examines other aspects of the Nigerian reality from the post-civil war era to modern socio-political events.
 
Obiageli's earlier years of writing poetry were greatly inspired by Okot p'Bitek. She credits her best African poem to be "The woman with whom I share my husband" by Okot p'Bitek. She enjoys poems by Henry Barlow and often talks about his poem titled "Building the Nation." In general, she enjoys reading from Contemporary Nigerian Writers like Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto, Nosakhare Collins, Chimamanda Adichie, Ijeoma Umebinyuo, Sefi Atta, Tolu Akinyemi, Roseline Mgbodichinma Anya Okorie, Kehinde Badiru, Dami Ajayi, Elnathan John, Helon Habila, Nnamdi Oguike, Oyindamola Shoola, amongst others
 
She believes that literature is a powerful tool that can be used to change the world. As such, she never resists the impulse to speak with her voice. She is very intentional about leadership, teaching, and learning.
 
Obiageli currently writes from Nigeria.
37 Comments
Udeigwe Chioma Daniella
2/5/2022 09:03:12 pm

This is a beautiful piece. Her choice of words are artistic

Reply
Makolo Ojogbene Rosalyn
24/5/2022 07:59:51 pm

I love this

Reply
Christine Vihishima
2/5/2022 09:30:33 pm

The poem truly depicts the fear that many of our mothers have when we rebel or try to be outliers… Obiageli sabi write sha!

Reply
Kalu Siza Amah
2/5/2022 09:34:49 pm

I love this piece; a reflection.

I love the historical allusions; Mau Mau Uprising in East Africa, etc.

The journey to find self, fostered by deviant forces within.

If I am to write back, my poem would be a plea to not leave home; to step in and stay.

Reply
Jacinta Chinemerem link
3/5/2022 08:17:55 am

An almost emotional piece; beautifully analysed.
The poem tells how mothers fear for the unknown when their children takes decision they ain't certain of.

Reply
Madamedon Oritsemuoyowa Merit
6/5/2022 02:31:10 pm

This is a very nice piece I love her artistic work and how she writes she really focused on the main point without any faults

Reply
Ihekwereme Ezekiel Favour
6/5/2022 04:48:22 pm

An emotional piece.
Your choice of words are so fantastic

Reply
Mohammed Abubakar Usman
6/5/2022 06:21:58 pm

This is remarkable and beautiful

Reply
Harry,Ndiana-Abasi Aniefiok
6/5/2022 07:05:17 pm

Mothers are always the architect of our characters.
Obiageli choice of words are beautiful💓

Reply
Emmanuel Esther Kuje
7/5/2022 09:22:12 am

Oh wow!!!!
This piece is beautiful!
The process in literary device.
Thumbs up Obiageli!

Reply
Deh Julius
7/5/2022 11:48:51 am

This is a thought provoking piece

Reply
Elajuku-wilson Olumide
7/5/2022 04:53:28 pm

It’s a very beautiful piece

Reply
Hussain Mamman
7/5/2022 06:35:31 pm

I love your choice of words. It was wonderful how you manage to put the whole thing together

Reply
Izang Alexander Haruna
8/5/2022 03:06:01 pm

With homely imagery, Obiageli tells not the joys of motherhood but the inescapable burden a mother bears in the face of a rebellious child; but this rebellion of the poet persona is borne of another inescapable existential tension, the search for freedom. The persona resonates with maxim that freedom is not given but demanded (taken). It remains to be argues the morality of the action but what the poem focuses on is inevitable reaction from a loved one, the pain that comes with separation especially in circumstances that leave much to be desired.
It takes more than mere looking to see, hence, the core of the poem as captured by the title implies an in-depth seeing, a gazing that resulted in a mother seeing herself in her child, it is a thorough mental act as it is physical.
We are all on the path to self liberation and actualization, home becomes an obstacle if this realization seems impossible within its walls.

Reply
Esther Agnes
8/5/2022 09:15:37 pm

This show how a mother is in her little girl so she doesn't have to be too uptight when she goes naughty because mum could have acted that way while she was her daughter age.... Good job

Reply
Zoe Yahmi
9/5/2022 11:09:50 pm

The poet's choice of words is articulate and artistic. The historic references - Mau Mau uprising and Mandela’s quest for freedom are right on too.

Reply
Joy
9/5/2022 11:58:30 pm

Wow.
A remembrance of the throes encountered in the fight for freedom.
Really touching!!

Reply
Tonjiye Matthew-Ibanichuka
10/5/2022 12:57:19 pm

This is such a beautiful piece. It is one I resonate with as I relate to my mother's disapproval for my sheer doggedness and rebellion.
The writer is articulate and this is lovely.

Reply
Nitta Amarachi
10/5/2022 11:16:20 pm

This is a truly beautiful one.

It paints a beautiful picture of the love of a mother wrapped in fear and anxiety.
It reminds me a lot about my mother.
I know she loves me but sometimes, I don't understand it.
Sometimes, I just want her to trust me enough to make my big decisions.

It's a lovely piece.

Reply
Racheal Abu-ara Ogbulu
11/5/2022 11:04:38 pm

A brief but nice piece of how our mothers feel
And this is only but a bit of how my own mother still feels when we're at loggerheads and I take my space
Thank you for this

Reply
Mercie Akerah
12/5/2022 04:50:54 pm

I love how she catches the attention of her readers
Reading the first two lines I wanted to continue.... I love this piece

Reply
Mahbubat link
13/5/2022 08:04:00 am

It is a beautiful piece and I think it tilts towards confessional.

In this piece, Obiageli reflects upon the love and anxiety of motherhood. The poem reflects upon the challenges, anxiety and unavoidably burden a mother bears in the face of a rebellious child who fails to find actualization within the walls of a home, thus the child seeks for freedom elsewhere. The first stanza, "my face is a scarecrow that sends men away" portrays the mother's anxiousness of her child who refuses to live according to the tradition. It is a common phenomenon in the African culture where the position of women is culturally subordinate and largely dependent and women are expected to be under the control of men.

The cry for freedom and mau mau uprising symbolizes the character's grit, inner turmoil and search for self actualization.

I admire the usage of allusion in the second stanza with reference to Mandela's quest for the freedom of South Africans.

In this poem, home is so much a metaphor for detention and this helps reflect upon the realities of everyday life of people who are at war with themselves.

Through the lines, it is noticeable that the poem focuses on the inevitable pain that comes with separation of a loved one especially between a mother and her child.

The poem is superb and rich in the delivery of compelling lines, rhythm, diction and personal imagery.

Reply
Osas Unuane
13/5/2022 12:20:54 pm

Obiageli's language did well to paint how most children perceive their mothers to be bothersome, control freaks.

But we must understand that their 'annoying' display and comments stem from their unadultrated love for their children. I'm thankful that Obiageli hinted on this at the last stanza of the poem.

Reply
Excel Chinagorom Michael
14/5/2022 12:26:30 pm

I love her choice of language; very simple. The imagery in that poem painted out the boredom and unfazed condition she found herself, the annoying part of her mother.

The third stanzas hinted on her decision to live —a problem between mother and daughter.

Indeed, it's a compelling lines.

Reply
Oghome Evwierhoma
17/5/2022 04:05:30 pm

This piece is relatable, because every female child has in some way or the other been cultures to act in certain ways and do certain things! It reminded me of when my mum told me to ‘sneeze like a lady’😂. It seems so small but even bigger things have happened to other girls.

The last stanza is my best because she sees her shadow in her daughters eye and is terrified, and maybe she sees what she could have become, if she fought too.
Love it!!!

Reply
Oluwateniola Ladi-Williams
18/5/2022 01:12:02 pm

Such a beautiful way with words. I read it more than once and each time it felt like I was fining new meanings to it. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. Well done!

Reply
Ogugua
18/5/2022 03:09:13 pm

Mother's love for a feminist daughter...
A true depiction of a courageous woman.
A beautiful piece that portrays the potency of female energy......

Reply
Ojo precious Iyanuoluwapo link
19/5/2022 03:12:33 pm

I love this poem in particular

In my perspective, using Nigeria as an example
The corruption, insecurity ,poverty to mention a few ,frightens her people but despite the voicing out ,there's no help within and that pushes her own people to leave the country for greener pastures .

I love her choice of words.

Reply
Olamide Ojediran
19/5/2022 03:46:26 pm

This is such an emotional piece that screams the love between a mother and child. It tells us that though a mother and child may not always see eye to eye everytime, a mother wouldn't want anything bad to happen their child. I wished the message the author was trying to pass across was more explicitly written as I had to read the poem more than twice to fully understand. Regardless, it's a beautiful piece. Well done Obiageli🙌🙌👏👏

Reply
Favour Jae
20/5/2022 02:33:54 pm

Made me so emotional

Reply
Mmema Udofia
20/5/2022 08:44:47 pm

Wonderful work talking about a hound lady who seeks freedom and decides to leave home to find freedom. But her mother feared that it will be a continuous thing as she herself might have also hleft her home in the past

Reply
Butbyen Sylvester
20/5/2022 08:50:54 pm

It's a very entriging poem, well articulated.
It relatable to mother's because of the fear of child being a person they don't want him/her to become, especially the female child.
It's almost impossible to not see this happen, even if the child doesn't leave, she will always have the thought.

Reply
Mamman Emmanuel Sokoga
21/5/2022 02:05:03 pm

This is such an emotional poem!!!

I love this simplicity of the poet.

More grace and more wisdom.

💯 RATED!!!

Reply
Chinonso Amechi link
21/5/2022 03:21:23 pm

I think the writer did her best in doing her bit. But I'm most assured that she really has more to offer. The piece is short yet captivating. But it feels like she wrote in haste, hence the reason why I feel she could do better relaxed. In the final analysis she's best for every credit showered on her.

Reply
Olaoye Damilola Rebecca
23/5/2022 01:44:59 am

A great poem indeed
Breathes through the quest for freedom by a child whom the mother apparently loves.The mother initially doesn't take to the child's rants but we see how scared she was when he/she wanted to leave.
A nice one from the writer.

Reply
Akeredolu Eniola Zion
27/5/2022 04:53:04 pm

This poem is a beautiful one with a lot of themes.
The anxiety of a mother and her love.
The cry of freedom.
I love this poem

Reply
Deborah Bolu link
27/5/2022 08:15:58 pm

Obiageli did an amazing job writing this short but expressive piece. This is a piece that's somewhat relatable especially amongst folks like me with African mothers who might seem overbearing. The young girl depicted wants her freeedom, she seeks to delve into new territory and see what it holds without her mother's stern gaze or correction. But in actuality, the strict nature of our mother's instill discipline in us and sometimes help in right decision making.
The last paragraph is however expository and shows that the need to want freedom is inherent when one feels caged as the mother seemed to have undergone such path before and is scared of a continuous pattern. The beginning letters should have been capitalized but overall, it's a well articulated piece.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    The SprinNG 2023 Brochure

    SprinNG Quicklinks
    About SprinNG
    Contests
    Anthologies
    Interviews
    Book Reviews
    Nigerian Writers Database
    Recommended Literary Sites
    Writers Fellowship

      Subscribe to SprinNG Newsletters
    Subscribe

    For inquiries regarding publications email: 
    contact@SprinNG.org 
    ​and we will respond to you within 48hrs.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE SPRINNG 2023 BROCHURE

Copyright @SprinNG 2023
​

  • Publications
    • Anthologies >
      • ETB Anthology
      • AEAnthology
      • WAD Anthology
      • CBS Anthology
      • 2020 Why I Write
      • 2019 Why I Write
    • Interviews
    • Book Reviews
  • Submit
    • Submit to Us
    • Nigerian Writers Database
  • Fellowship
    • Writing Fellowship
    • Advancement Fellowship
  • Contests
    • Monthly Bookstore Gift-card
    • Annual Poetry Contest
    • SWAP >
      • SWAP 2022 Winners
      • SWAP 2021 Winner
      • SWAP 2020 Winner
  • SprinNG Lit
  • Services
    • Resume/CV Editing Services
    • Cover Letter Editing
    • Bio/Personal Statement Editing
  • Donate
  • About
    • Annual Report
    • Quicklinks