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<p style="text-align:center"><em>A Review of Sir Eriata Oribhabor Di Poet’s Poetry Trilogy by Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom</em></p>



<p>I <em>would have loved to begin reviewing the poetic trilogy forthwith, but there is an utmost need to unfurl the poet behind the poems. Echoes owe their existence to walls. Sir Eriata Oribhabor is an untiring warrior for a sane society and a die-hard canvasser for “that beautiful picture”. Amid cheers and jeers, his writings emit truths strutting varied arenas. As a minstrel, his ever-tweeting pen traverses colours and borders, spilling oneness on papers of humanity. The poet, in his recent post on Facebook, unveiled a new sobriquet – Eriata Oribhabor (Di Poet). For one who gushes poetry like a waterfall, ascribing definiteness to his “poet status” is not out of place. Di Poet who is also fondly addressed as “The Merchant of Poetry” is an unstoppable brewer of lines and massive “carrier” of poetry across borders. Taking the foregoing into consideration, associating knighthood with “Di Poet”, in form of the appellation “Sir”, is meritoriously earned. </em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://www.wrr.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/THE-ERIATA-ORIBHABOR-TRIOLOGY-2-876x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37545" loading="lazy"></figure>



<p><strong>POETIC STYLE</strong></p>



<p>Di Poet has a very distinct style of “poeming”. “Don’t want to start a poem / It rains me poems non-stop,” he declares in “Colours and Borders”. His poems are characterized by refined compactness and undulating harmony. His verses are so tightly woven that they could be described as grains of sand and enjoyed as packs of small chops. Noticeably, Di Poet has a penchant for subsuming his poems in riveting musicality. </p>



<p style="text-align:right" class="has-medium-font-size">In his “trilogy” – Walking Truths, That Beautiful Picture and Colours and Borders, Di Poet employs the services of an orchestra to enliven his poems for audiences seeking the unification of entertainment and aesthetics. </p>



<p>Do not be mistaken, this orchestra isn’t constituted by animate artistes, but by sound devices including repetition, cadence, alliteration, assonance and consonance, playing diverse musical instruments to achieve uninterrupted rhythm. He does not dwell unnecessarily in his works; consequently, most of the poems find it hard outliving a page. This attests to the fact that Di Poet is a frugal spender of words who prefers to keep it brief and sturdy (fleshy) in accordance with the mighty-little nature of poetry. I think Di Poet has indirectly made a reference to his literary style in one of the poems where he defines beauty thus:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-verse"><em>“Beauty comes in packs of simplicity</em><br> <em>Smiles and imprints of creative pecks</em><br> <em>Beauties are gifts of quality statements – Everyone yearns a taste”</em> </pre>



<p>Dominant
in the poetry trilogy is Di Poet’s adept use of metaphors, imagery and sarcasm.
The verses are veined by connotative devices conjuring vivid imageries that make
a reader embark on images-filled sojourn. In his unwavering quest to right the
wrongs in the society, Di Poet wields sarcasm as a scourge for uprooting the
woes of humanity.</p>



<p>Percy Shelley
defines poetry as “an echo asking a shadow to dance and makes familiar objects
be as if they were not familiar.” Di Poet writes about anything, everywhere, anytime.
He finds his muse in the bowel of a bird, in the belly of a camel and in the
gut of a fish. In one of his poems, he assertively declares himself “The
Muse” in recognition of how effortlessly the pen does his bidding. You
don’t teach a bird how to fly, it simply flies; you don’t tell Eriata Di Poet
when to write, he simply writes. However, it is important to note that, despite
the unbelievable prolificness of Di Poet, his works are not deprived of essence
and quality. All poems in the trilogy draw needful breaths. </p>



<p>The
poetry collections entitled “Walking Truths”, “That Beautiful Picture” and Colours
and Borders are imprints of “Something For Everybody Ventures”, a publishing
outfit run by the author. The quality of the publication emboldens the optimistic
ideology of Di Poet as regards having a beautiful picture across borders.
“It doesn’t have to be foreign to be deemed good.” The books ooze
beauty and appeal many would believe could not be obtained locally. Di Poet has
walked his talk, and sung his song. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://www.wrr.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/THE-ERIATA-ORIBHABOR-TRIOLOGY-3-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37546" loading="lazy"><figcaption> <em>Sir Eriata Oribhabor &; </em><strong>Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom</strong> </figcaption></figure>



<p>The
cover pages of the anthologies create immediate impressions and are profoundly symbolistic.
The author has a penchant for packaging his poems in colourful and meaningful wraps.
For Walking Truths, there is a picture of a wooden bridge/walkway leading into
the woods. There is no sign of a physical presence, however, the title of the collection
– Walking Truths – is boldly plastered on the walkway. Of course, the truth is
not a vertebrate, and one should not expect to see it walking on its limbs. Truth,
as should be the case, is written with a white font to symbolize its pristine
nature. Perhaps, the use of red for “Walking” indicates the alarming attribute
of the truth or the bloody aftermath of a truth walking into the woods, armed to
the teeth with words. In “That Beautiful Picture, surrealness is created with rays
of lights hitting the water. Colours and Borders features the image of the border
fence of Mexico and the USA at Playas de Tijuana. </p>



<p><strong>POETIC STYLE</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Acknowledgement
of Background</strong></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Oneness
of Humanity</strong></li></ul>



<p>Humanity
is indivisible. Sir Eriata reechoes this belief with “Colours and
Borders” wherein as a minstrel he captures his roving experiences in
enchanting lines. Di Poet, uninhibited by borders, traces elements of commonality
amongst races and ethnics. As a much-travelled man, he has brought the
knowledge of “wide seeing” into his poetry, hoping it would reorder the orientation
of readers, and engender the deletion of societal stratification. The following
verses magnify the said theme:</p>



<p>Sir
Eriata Oribhabor (Di Poet) will not, as a blossoming flower, scorn his root. In
the first poem entitled “Evergreen” in Colours and Borders, the nostalgic poet
introduces us to his modest background:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-verse"><em>“These lines spill from</em><br> <em>Lawns, drains</em><br> <em>And school fees paid</em><br> <em>By an illiterate teacher.</em><br> <em> </em><br> <em>These lines speak dad’s tireless hands building a town</em><br> <em>Value-bungling</em><br> <em>Mum’s akara and agidi</em><br> <em>Hawked around</em><br> <em>By this poet and siblings”</em> </pre>



<p>Di
poet, with these lines, honours the labour of his parents, who via their immeasurable
sacrifices ensured he had a formal education. If you are wondering where Di
Poet’s love for his country emanates from, you have the answer in this line – “These
lines speak dad’s tireless hands building a town.” And this said town is Warri in
Delta State, Nigeria. Surely, the Merchant of Poetry holds his background and
memories of his parents dear, and would keep working towards its continued
dignification. </p>



<pre class="wp-block-verse"><em>Ringing voices of sweetness</em><br> <em>Unraveling showers of humanity</em><br> <em>Unforgettable walk in the middle of continents</em><br> <em>Rhythmic rolls of oceanic smiles,</em><br> <em>Depths of oneness,</em><br> <em>Beyond colours and borders</em> </pre>



<p> There is an examination of different cultures experienced by the poet while visiting places such as Chicago, London, Tijuana, Istanbul, San Diego, Chula Vista, Salerno, East Legon etc. In the poems, history, food, music and dance are prominently discussed in a manner that elicit the yearnings of a reader. In his sojourn, the author makes friends and reinforces ties with people of varied backgrounds. Filled with gratitude for friendships, he mentions names such as Anna Patrizia Caminati, Pilar. R. Aranda, Erah Oalind, Olajumoke Ogunsanya, Nkemjika Christien, Maryam Memee, and so on. Some of these “poet-friends” wrote poems in his honour, and are featured in the trilogy </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://www.wrr.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/THE-ERIATA-ORIBHABOR-TRIOLOGY-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37544" loading="lazy"></figure>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Environmental
Degradation</strong></li></ul>



<p>Clean water and sanitation are some of the sustainable development goals. Notably, Di Poet takes this on as a personal responsibility in “That Beautiful Picture”, bemoaning environmental degradation. Listen:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-verse"><em>“That beautiful picture reminds me</em><br> <em>Of our creeks and rivers smelling still</em><br> <em>Of human and oily waters</em><br> <em>Breaths of pain and hunger</em>. </pre>



<p>
















Di Poet has refused to be swayed or have his
senses numbed by a beautiful picture taken elsewhere. Very satirical, he draws
the attention of traveling takers of beautiful pictures to the rot back home



</p>



<pre class="wp-block-verse"><em>“Talk of virtues of life abandoned for materialism,</em><br> <em>Corruption and killing raves of the time,</em><br> <em>Champions of bloodied waters of our creeks</em><br> <em>And the gradual disappearance of a fishing culture”</em> </pre>



<p> Di Poet has refused to be swayed or have his senses numbed by a beautiful picture taken elsewhere. Very satirical, he draws the attention of traveling takers of beautiful pictures to the rot back home </p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Death,
Madness and Terrorism</strong></li></ul>



<p>It
is very saddening that violence holds the country by its jugular. It used to be
on our screens, now etched in our eyes. In “Yesterday” contained in “Walking
Truths”, Di Poet captures these heart-wrenching experiences thus:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-verse"><em>Yesterday</em><br> <em>Hell kissed our world</em><br> <em>Swallowing great voices</em><br> <em>Harbingers of death</em><br> <em>Strangled earths to death</em><br> <em>And spewed darkness</em><br> <em>Across our land</em><br> <em> </em><br> <em>Yesterday,<br> bestiality reigned wild</em><br> <em>Beating her past to pulp,</em><br> <em>It threatened a stop</em><br> <em>Of a world, brimming backwardness</em> </pre>



<p>It is very saddening that violence holds the country by its jugular. It used to be on our screens, now etched in our eyes. In “Yesterday” contained in “Walking Truths”, Di Poet captures these heart-wrenching experiences thus:</p>



<p>In
another poem in the collection, “Still Walking Nation”, the author mentions the
difficulty in ascertaining which of the terror groups is responsible for
unleashing mayhem at a particular time. It is so bad that the momentary
muteness of a terror group is an active period for another, painting pictures
of mindless bloodlettings. Di Poet is concerned about these horrendous occurrences,
and in performing his role as a “protector of the realm”, he lends his voice towards
curtailing the madness. </p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Religious
Hypocrisy</strong></li></ul>



<p>Religion is a very fundamental constituent of any society, responsible for moulding hearts, and hearts determine deeds. Sadly, many horrible deeds are being perpetrated in the name of religion, making one wonder if religion hasn’t done more harm than the good it ought to do. The author, utterly sarcastic, tackles religious hypocrisy in the following lines amongst others: </p>



<pre class="wp-block-verse"><strong><em>HALELUYA</em></strong><br> <em>Prayer round</em><br> <em>Pound our homes</em><br> <em>Haleluya!</em><br> <em> </em><br> <em>To HIM they pray</em><br> <em>In SIN they grow</em><br> <em>HALELUYA</em> </pre>



<pre style="text-align:right" class="wp-block-verse"><strong>Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom</strong><br> <em>Author, Punctured Silence</em><br> <em>Executive Secretary, Poets in Nigeria</em> </pre>



<p><strong>Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom</strong><br> <em>Author, Punctured Silence</em><br> <em>Executive Secretary, Poets in Nigeria</em> </p>



<p><strong>PROMINENT
ATTRIBUTES</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Popular
Culture:</strong> The poetic trilogy is heavily permeated
by contemporariness. The author, though in his late 50s, is actively involved
in the events of this era. He utilizes modern slangs and acronyms in his works,
and can’t seem to keep away from referencing the internet and the social media,
with terms such as Google, WI-FI, Data, Likes, Comments and Shares getting
prominent mentions. </li><li><strong>Naija
(Pidgin) Poetry</strong></li></ul>



<p>In
the poetic trilogy, Di Poet who is an ardent promoter of Naija Pidgin, writes
in the language which is intrinsic to him. Some of the Naija Pidgin poems in
the trilogy include: Not Fo Dis Ples, Giv Mi Marej, Dis Na Club, If Na Bread
etc.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Social
Activism</strong></li></ul>



<p>Evidently,
the author of this poetic trilogy is a social activist who has dedicated most
of his poems to addressing societal ills. He simply cannot turn a blind eye to
happenings around him. He voices his concerns, hoping that they would inspire
changes favouring our individual and collective wellbeing.</p>



<p>With
these poetic offerings, Sir Eriata Oribhabor (Di Poet) has sealed his status as
a foremost and global poet. And, <em>“his
story, won’t, in the eyes of creative climes, fade.”</em> Never!</p>



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THE ERIATA ORIBHABOR TRIOLOGY: OF TRUTHS WALKING ACROSS VARIED BORDERS, MERGING PATCHES OF BEAUTY INTO FULL-BLOWN GARDENS
