#sacrifice and the abject misery of the masses.

[swanqueeneverafter]

After The Sunset, Pt.26

Enchanted Forest. (A lone rider makes his way through the forest. Coming to a stop in front of a cave, the rider dismounts and we see that it's Henry Swan-Mills. Securing his horse and then drawing his sword, Henry takes a deep breath before entering the cave.) Cave. (Walking further into the cave, Henry arrives at a dais, upon which lays a sleeping princess. Sheathing his sword, Henry approaches the dais.) Henry: "I knew I'd find you." (Just as he's about to kiss the princess, a large fire-breathing dragon reveals itself to him. The dragon roars and spews a stream of fire at Henry, which luckily he's able to avoid. Drawing his sword ready to attack, Henry braces himself. At that same moment, a young prince arrives, hurling his sword and killing the creature. Turning, Henry stares mutely at the prince.) Prince: “Don't worry. I got this.” (Walking towards the dais, the prince leans down and kisses the maiden, awakening her with True Love’s Kiss.) Princess: “You saved me. My hero. (Stepping off the dais, she notices the would-be savior:) Henry? What are you doing here?” Henry: “I, uh was in the neighborhood. Thought you could use another familiar face when you woke up.” Princess: “Well, thank you. I don't know what I would have done without your support. (The prince and princess walk off together:) Isn't he sweet? Like the brother I never had.” (Henry watches them leave while he stands alone.)

Enchanted Forest. (Exiting the cave, Henry touches the gash on his head and winces when he sees the blood.) Rumplestiltskin: (Standing beside the cave entrance:) “Some scars go more than skin deep. And I have a feeling that one goes right to the bone.” Henry: “Surprise, that story wasn’t mine, either.” Rumplestiltskin: "Apparently not. And that was what, the third princess so far?" Henry: "Fourth." Rumplestiltskin: "Ouch." Henry: (Sighs:) "Grandpa, I know you're only trying to help, but I think I'm done. I'm not in the mood for your games anymore." Rumplestiltskin: "Games? These aren't games, Dearie. These are possibilities. I brought you to this realm to help you find your story, you can't just quit after four abject failures. (Henry shakes his head:) Perhaps what you need is a different perspective." Henry: "What do you mean?" Rumplestiltskin: "Well, take your mother for instance. Regina didn't find her happy ending with your other mother until after she gave up her evil ways." Henry: "That's true..." Rumplestiltskin: "So maybe for this next story, you could try playing the villain?" Henry: "No, that's not who I want to be." Rumplestilskin: "Oh Henry, relax. This world isn't real. The people in it don't really exist, so you wouldn't actually be hurting anyone. Trust your grandpa, Henry. I can get you a happy beginning, middle, and an end. Beautiful princess. Sparkling castle. Anything you dream can be yours. All you have to do, is try it." Henry: (Considers:) "All right, but just once. Then we try something else." Rumplestiltskin: "Of course. Now, (Putting his hand around Henry's shoulder:) I think I know exactly where we should begin." Royal Castle. (Snow White awakens cradling Neal in her arms. Sitting up, she nudges David awake.) Snow White: "David." David: "Yeah, I'm okay." Hook: (Sits up:) "No. What happened? Where the blazes are we?" David: (Looking around:) "This is our palace." Snow White: "We're in the Enchanted Forest."

Jabberwocky: (Via a magic mirror:) "Well, you've got to admit, I've got panache." Hook: "There! That's the creature who was masquerading as Belle." Jabberwocky: (As the trio approach the mirror:) "Creature? How rude." David: "Who are you? Why have you done this?" Jabberwocky: "They call me the Jabberwocky, and I've done nothing to you. I've merely brought you home." Snow White: "Why are we here?" Jabberwocky: "Because the people need their leaders. Those ordinary, common folk that you relied upon to help you take back your kingdom from the Evil Queen. The same peasants you forgot about the moment you sat on your thrones." Hook: "What are you babbling about?" Jabberwocky: "Heroes. You and everyone else who identify themselves with that epithet are guilty of crimes against the masses. You allow yourselves to be built up in the eyes of those you claim to be fighting for, and yet once you find your happy endings, your heroics end as well. Leaving the rest of us to wallow in the muck, trapped in our own misery, never to escape." Snow White: "So we're to believe you're some sort of champion for the every man?" Jabberwocky: (Chuckles:) "By the time I'm done, every man, woman and child will be made equal. They will be able to determine their own destinies and not bow down to their so-called heroes." Wonderland. Mountain Top. (A robed Alice watches a similarly robed Drizella as she gathers the ingredients she needs.) Alice: "I'm not sure about this. Why do we need to cast a spell?" Drizella: "Oh, don't think of this as a spell. Spells can be used to harm people. Think of it as a cure. A cure to everyone's suffering. (Seeing that Alice is still unsure:) When you see the beauty of what we're doing, you won't mind the cost at all. We have everything we need. Let's begin. Hold out your hands. (Alice does and Drizella holds up a vial:) Old love. The blood of your brother. (Places the vial in Alice's hand. Holds up another vial:) New love. Blood from the woman with whom you wish to spend your life." Alice: "What? Robin? What do you know about Rob-" Drizella: "Hush. (Holds up the last vial:) Love betrayed. A lock of my sister's hair. She was killed by my mother in the name of hatred." Alice: (As Drizella places the last vial in her hands:) "So, what's supposed to happen? (The vials ignite into a swirling flame:) Am I meant to-" Drizella: "Simply do as you did before with the Dark One dagger. Raise your arms to the sky and send forth your Guardian powers into the night. Let it spread across all the realms far and wide and by morning, you will be free of your magic. Able to live a long, happy life with the one you love. Safe in the knowledge that your sacrifice has saved everyone." (Alice nods and, after a moment, begins to shape the flames in her hands before shooting a jet of fire into the sky. As a dark cloud forms and blankets the sky, turning day into night, Drizella looks up at it, laughing with glee.)

Tiana's Palace. (Tiana sits staring at her vanity mirror, an unreadable expression on her face.) Will: (Reclined on the plush cushions:) "Come to bed, Your Majesty." Tiana: (Turning in her chair to face him:) "Aren't you even a little concerned about your sister?" Will: "This again. (Sits up:) I've been concerned for Alice for more years than I can remember. After what she's been through, I think Alice is entitled to a little adventure every now and then." Tiana: "So why not take Robin with her? They clearly care deeply for one another." Will: (Moves towards her:) "Why does this bother you so much?" Tiana: "Because... should the day come that we were to marry, Alice would become my sister. The people already know their queen shares her bed with the Knave of hearts, what if something were to happen to Alice while she off on some adventure alone?" Will: (Scoffs:) "Kidnap and ransom, that's what you're worrying about? Alice can handle herself and there are far richer kingdoms to try and squeeze money from. Everyone knows you give most of the treasury money back to the people anyway." Tiana: "I suppose, but I still don't like the idea of her being alone." Will: "Well, having Robin with her wouldn't make much difference." Tiana: (Laughs:) "I wouldn't let her hear you say that. Robin's skills with the bow are second to none, or are you choosing to forget about that bet you lost?" Will: (Dismissively:) "It was a lucky shot." Tiana: "She shot an apple off your head from one hundred yards away. I don't think- (Suddenly, something catches Tiana's eye from the open window:) What is that?" Anastasia: (Entering:) "I think I might have the answer." Will: (Shocked:) "Anastasia..." Tiana: (Steps forward:) "How did you get in here?" Anastasia: "I was queen myself once, I know how to avoid guards." Will: "Anastasia, how did you-" Anastasia: "A combination of magic and science." Will: "So, Doctor Frankenstein, he... did this?" Anastasia: (Nods:) "Thanks to my mother's sacrifice." Tiana: (Cutting in:) "Not that I'm not pleased to see you alive and well, but you mentioned something about that angry looking cloud that's currently headed right for us?" Anastasia: "Yes. Whatever that thing is out there, I'm certain my sister is responsible for it." Will: "Drizella?" Anastasia: (Nods:) "My mother gave her life so that Drizella and I would be reunited. So that I could convince my sister to end whatever that cloud out there is going to bring down upon all of us." Tiana: "Okay, there's no time to waste, whatever that cloud is, it's bad news." Enchanted Forest. Royal Palace. (The Charmings and Hook are still trying to digest what's happened.) David: "So this thing, this Jabberwocky, she wants to turn the people against heroes?" Snow White: “How does she intend to do that?” Hook: "And, what the bloody hell is a Jabberwocky and why should we care what her plans are?" Zelena: (Entering, accompanied by Robin and several other citizens of Oz:) "I think I might know.” Snow White: “Zelena. Where have you been?” Zelena: “Oz. Robin and I, and a few hangers-on, only just made it out in one piece.” (Holds up Jefferson’s hat.) Snow White: (Gasps:) “The Mad Hatter's hat.” David: “W-Wasn't it destroyed?” Zelena: “Well, he was a hatter. He had multiples. Inside are portals to every realm. I used it to escape Oz.” David: “Escape? Why did you need to escape your own realm?” Zelena: “Look, there isn't much time. It's easier if I show you.” (Zelena places the hat on the ground and transports them inside.) Inside The Mad Hatter’s Hat. (They arrive to find a room surrounded by many doors, all leading to different realms.) Zelena: (Walking to the door leading to Oz:) “If you want to know what we were running from, take a gander.” (Pulls the curtain to reveal people and munchkins fighting in the streets.) Snow White: “They’re killing each other.” Zelena: “I can see that.” Robin: “When we left Oz, there was a huge thunder cloud darkening the sky. As soon as it came overhead-” Zelena: “It was apocalyptic, people started attacking each other.” Hook: “What’s causing this?” Zelena: “Your friend in the mirror, the Jabberwocky. She’s an ancient, immortal creature. She feeds off everyone’s fears, their hatred. Obviously she’s using that power to turn everyone against each other.” David: "But why now?" Zelena: (Shrugs:) "I heard tales of the Jabberwocky as a child. My father used to threaten that she'd come and get me if I didn't do my chores." Robin: "That's awful." Zelena: "Last anyone heard, she was trapped in a tower in Wonderland." Robin: "Like Alice?" Zelena: (Nods:) "Only in this case, the Jabberwocky was never meant to be freed." Hook: "Well someone clearly ignored that decree and released her anyway. The question is how do we stop her?" Zelena: "That's the tricky part. To defeat an immortal we need an immortal, and now that Rumple's no longer the Dark One..." David: "There's no one left to stop her." Snow White: "Zelena, isn’t there some counter spell you can use to slow that cloud down? Like the potion Regina made to counteract the Black Fairy’s curse?" Zelena: "It's possible, but it won’t buy us much time. The fact is, and I can’t believe I’m admitting this; my magic alone won’t be enough. We need something much stronger.” Hook: “Like Emma and Regina’s combined magic?” Zelena: “Precisely. Only trouble is, with the people baying for our blood, we're stuck here and the lovebirds have just flown three thousand miles away.”

The Land Without Magic. Present. Paris. (Emma stands sipping her drink at the poolside bar when she turns to see her wife stepping out of the pool. As if suddenly in slow motion, Emma watches Regina rise from the water, climbing the steps while never taking her eyes from her intended target. The brunette simply stands there for a moment to allow Emma to watch the water cascade down her body, causing the blonde woman to miss her mouth with her straw several times. Smiling, Regina returns to her sun lounger, knowing full well her wife is watching every move she makes in her white, two-piece bathing suit. Shaken from her stupor by the sounds coming from the straw in her now empty glass, Emma gets to her feet and walks over to join Regina.) Emma: (Approaching:) "I appreciate a woman who knows how to make an entrance. Are you staying at the hotel?" Regina: (Playing along:) "Yes I am. How about you, what brings you to Paris, business or pleasure?" Emma: "Hopefully a bit of both. May I sit?" Regina: "Please." (Emma takes a seat on the sun lounger opposite.) Emma: "I'm Trixie." Regina: (Smirks, thinks:) "I'm Lola. (They share a smile, and Regina continues their game:) It takes forever to get a drink. There's only one waitress." Emma: "I can go to the bar." Regina: "Oh, don't go. I mean, you just got here." Emma: "Hm. So tell me, Lola, what do you do for a living?" Regina: "I'm in sales." Emma: "Sales, how intentionally vague of you." Regina: (Smiles:) "I like to keep things close to my chest." Emma: "I can certainly see why. I like your outfit." Regina: "Thank you. Actually this is my second favourite outfit." Emma: "Oh yeah?" Regina: "I had a first favourite, but it got ruined and I had to get rid of it." Emma: "What happened to it?" Regina: "It got torn from my body." Emma: "Really? How did that happen?" Regina: "My wife got overzealous." Emma: "Your wife? She sounds intense." Regina: "She has her moments." Emma: "Well it's a shame she's not here, I'd like to meet her." Regina: "We could wait for her in my room if you want?" Emma: (Chuckles:) "Wow, already?" Regina: (Winces:) "Too soon? This is your game, I've never played before." Emma: "Shh, no it's fine. Keep going. (Gets back into character:) I'd love to wait in your room with you." Regina: "On second thought, maybe we shouldn't. I mean, I don't even know you." Emma: "Well then get to know me. Ask me what I do for a living." Regina: "All right, what do you do for a living, Trixie?" Emma: "I'm a bounty hunter." Regina: "A b-bounty hunter?" Emma: "Mhmm. I track down bad people and bring them to justice." Regina: "That sounds dangerous." Emma: "It can be, but it has its perks too." Regina: "Such as?" Emma: "Well, there's this one person I've been tracking for a long time. She's the worst of the worst. They call her the Evil Queen." Regina: "Hm. She sounds awful." Emma: "Yeah, that's what most people believe. But I have a different theory." Regina: "You do?" Emma: "Mm. I think she's not as bad as they say. I think she just needs someone to help turn her life around. And I think, she's siting next to me right now." Regina: "Oh, Trixie, please you have to understand, I-" Emma: "Shh, I know. It turns out, I'm not a very good bounty hunter." Regina: "Y-you're not?" Emma: (Shakes her head:) "No, I keep falling for their sob stories and let them go." Regina: "You sound as if you have a heart of gold." Emma: "Well, I'm not that easy. I'd have to be convinced. (Taking Regina's hand:) Why don't you come with me up to your room, and we'll see if you can give me a compelling reason to let you go." (Regina smiles and allows herself to be helped to her feet. Once she reaches her full height, they kiss.) Regina: (Their lips part but remain tantalizingly close:) "How was that?" Emma: "Mm, that... was a very good opening argument." Regina: "Trust me, Trixie, by the time I finish convincing you, you'll never want to let me go." (With that, Regina takes Emma's hand and leads them away from the poolside.) Wonderland. (Tiana, Anastasia and Will walk through the forest towards the source of the dark cloud spreading across the sky.) Will: "The wind is carrying the cloud away from here, but it won't be long before the entire sky is blacked out." Anastasia: (Lagging behind:) "Must we walk directly in the mud?” Tiana: “What's the matter, Queen? Or is it only your hands you don't mind getting dirty?” Anastasia: “Will, you should really teach your girlfriend some manners before someone else does.” (The group continue walking.) Will: “Tiana, are you all right?” Tiana: “Yes, I'm fine.” Will: “Are you sure?” Tiana: “Of course I am.” Will: (Glancing back at Anastasia:) “Look, Ana and I, we’re just friends. There’s never been anything more to it than that.” Tiana: (Scoffs:) “I’m not jealous, Will. I just don’t trust why she’s here. Before she died, the Red Queen wasn’t exactly known for her love of the people.” Will: “That was the Queen of Hearts’ influence. Trust me, before Cora got her claws into her, Anastasia was one of the sweetest, kindest people you could ever hope to meet.” Tiana: “Well, I’ll take your word for it. For now.” (They walk by a small village which looks to have been attacked.) Will: "Looks like this place has been abandoned." Tiana: "And no wonder. (Points to debris on the ground:) It looks as though something took a bite out of this wall." Naveen: (Approaching, spear in hand:) “Not exactly a mouth you'd want to kiss, now, is it?” Will: (Stepping between Tiana and Naveen:) “Who are you?” Naveen: “My shiny coat and my sharp spear don't give it away? I'm the hero who's going to kill this beast of a gator.” Tiana: “Then you're even stupider than you look, because whatever attacked this dock is too big to be any gator.” Naveen: “You don't have to believe me. In fact, it's probably best if you and your friends run along.” Tiana: “If anyone is running along, it is you.” Naveen: “Fiery. Whew, I like that. You remind me of someone. Oh, myself.” Will: “You'd do best to cut the quips. This is the queen of the kingdom you're talking to.” Naveen: “Allow me to introduce myself. (Bows:) Prince Naveen of Maladonia, at your service.” Tiana: “Wait, you're really a prince?” Naveen: “I've been tracking this fearsome beast across the entire realm. My enchanted spear is the only weapon strong enough to kill it.” Tiana: (To Will:) “Now he is bragging about his enchanted spear.” Will: “You know what? Where's the harm in bringing him? We can always use him as bait.” Tiana: “And I'll enjoy saving his life and showing him what a real hero is like. For now, you can accompany her highness back there.”

(Tiana turns back to look for Anastasia but sees she’s nowhere to be found.) Tiana: “Will.” Will: “What?” Tiana: “Where’s Anastasia?” Will: “I don't know.” Tiana: “She was right behind us.” Elsewhere In The Forest. (A group of villagers huddle in a circle as one man holds something skyward.) Village Leader: "One diamond pin! (Holds up another item:) One ring, looks like rubies! This'll feed us for months. (The villagers cheer:) The question is what do we do with her?” (Anastasia is revealed to be sat in the middle of the circle, dazed.) Anastasia: “Where am I? Who are you people?” Village Leader: “You people? Did you hear that? ‘You people.’” Anastasia: (Being pulled to her feet:) “Don't you know who I am?!” Village Woman: “Why do you think we hijacked you?” Village Leader: “Of course we know who you are, or, rather, who you used to be. You abandoned us! You took our harvests, let terrifying creatures take over our fields. You're the reason we're hungry. You're the reason we're suffering. And now you, darling, will be the one to suffer.” (The villagers converge upon her.)

Inside The Mad Hatter's Hat. (The room has filled considerably, leaders from all realms gathered together.) Snow White: "I saw someone from Arendelle just now. They still had snow on their shoulders." David: "What? How far is this nightmare spreading?" Jasmine: (Arriving with Zelena and Aladdin:) “Far.” Snow White: “Jasmine, Aladdin?” Aladdin: “It hit Agrabah, whatever it is.” Jasmine: “We barely got our people out. What's going on?” Snow White: “The Jabberwocky is spreading fear across all the realms.” David: “The black cloud that’s filling the sky is somehow feeding on people’s hatred. The more it feeds, the stronger it gets." Robin: “We need to get back there and stop all this.” Aladdin: “What about the portal we just came through, the hat?” Zelena: “I travelled to each realm and gathered us all in one place so that there’d be strength in numbers. We need to stick together until we come up with a plan.” Snow White: “Well we can’t stay in here much longer, there’s not enough room.” (Zelena rolls her eyes and transports everyone out of the hat.) Dark Palace. (There are murmurs of surprise from those gathered as they take in their new surroundings.) Hook: “Grouping us together like this is all very well and good, but I don’t see Mal here, I don’t see my daughter.” Zelena: “I couldn’t find Lily and Maleficent wasn’t interested in leaving her nightclub. I didn’t have time to convince those who didn’t want my help. Besides, they’re both dragons, they can handle themselves.” Hook: “Aye, but this storm or whatever feeds on emotions, right? Feelings of inadequacy and vengeance? I’m not gonna just stand here and let my daughter do something she’ll regret.” Snow White: (As Hook turns to leave:) “Wait, Hook, it’s not safe for you out there.” Hook: “Ah well that’s where you’re wrong, luv. You heroes might be prime targets for attack, but you’re forgetting one thing. I’m Captain Hook, I’ve always been a villain.” (With that, Hook turns and walks away.)

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen

[wrrpoetry]

TITLE: ECHOES OF CONSCIENCE AUTHOR: KENN AMAECHI JNR. GENRE: POETRY NUMBER OF PAGES: 120 PUBLISHER: WORDS RHYMES & RHYTHM PUBLISHERS DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2016 ISBN: 978-978-952-001-5 REVIEWER: AYOOLA GOODNESS

Politics is a determinant for the success or failure of a society— and society is the people.

With what goes on in our world today, one would agree that most of the crises experienced are mechanised by a political cause or the other. It is sad as this has become a societal plague. The situation is worsened to the extent that a vicious circle that promotes social violence on both major and minor scales (the political influence on religious crisis, tribal wars and the likes cannot be over-emphasised) is etched. The victims are always the hoi polloi—of abuse of power, dictatorial extensions—and the grave subjection to truculent intentions.

ECHOES CONSCIENCE by Kenn Amaechi Jnr

Bad leaders and poor leadership qualities are directly responsible for this cause. In most countries, especially African countries, the concept of leadership is/has been bastardised consistently and completely abused by men of no conscience. The so called leaders take the advantage of power to fulfil their corrupt interest and thereby make life difficult for the governed. They fabricate lies in their manifestoes during general elections and mobilise people through political gimmicks and in the long run not fulfilling any. And funnily, to reiterate that these unhealthy processes of leadership are recurrent since political powers, purposes and plans are rotated within a selected sect is pertinent. The case of class oppression is evident in this light.

It all boils down to the detriment of the masses still in that they are constantly traumatized and shut into shocking experience of silence—and suffering due to the acts of self-centeredness of wicked leaders.

Silence is a familiar parlance; of muffled voices.

One is not surprised to find out that the public is completely stereotyped, as they survive regimes of greed and corruption. In actual sense, corruption has become the order of the day in the political system of the world and this, conclusively, renders any system of government ineffective.

There is always that noticeable ubiquity of lack ; lack of security, lack of social infrastructures and educational facilities, lack of health facilities, lack of this and lack of that. What else do one expects in a system where looters are leaders?

KEN AMAECHI JNR author of ECHOES OF CONSCIENCE & THE QUEST

Nigeria is a perfect example.

That poetry provides therapy through the power of words is undisputed. There is an experience of ease, somehow, a respite for the masses for telling their story of pains and suffering (to bring about comfort)—for lending a voice to their stiffened cries for succour— and here again, poetry is a delight!

Kenn Amaechi Jnr’s Echoes of Conscience has again come to the rescue of this growing muteness, as a voice— like other voices (past, present and forthcoming) to establish that poetry is an unrelenting voice to silence—and to silence the howling situations of discomforts from political forces in Nigeria.

The book opens with ‘Reign of Vampires’ (pg. 12), where the poet addresses the political oppression of those in power:

‘They are virulent vampires Façade of decent being ‘To devour and destroy.’ (Reign of Vampires pg. 12)

Though, the thoughts in the poem are drawn from the Nigerian experience of the dictatorial leadership of Late General Sanni Abacha’s regime. The thematic occupation of the poem (power oppression) is relevant to virtually the political experiences of the Nigerian State to date.

ECHOES CONSCIENCE by Kenn Amaechi Jnr

The poem, ‘Our Leaders’ (pg. 30), portrays the constant abuse of power by ‘Masquerades’ (pg. 14) and ‘Assembly of Thieves’ (pg. 35); hypocrites in the irony of a ‘Messiah’ (pg. 18). The resultant effect of this is captured in the poem, ‘Burning Nation’ (pg. 21), where the poetic voice exposes the readers to the political orchestrations of self-centered leaders and thereby giving rise to societal conflicts. The era of hunger and poverty is also highlighted as a stimulus for militancy and ethno religious rivalry. The poet concludes to the heat of the political state as an unending disaster:

‘This flame, No sea can quench not even the benevolent Niger and Benue rivers can quench’. (Burning nation pg. 21)

Is there hope for the masses? ‘Vox Populi’ (pg. 32), ‘ Hunger, Pains and Misery’ (pg. 74) and ‘Echoes of the Times’ (pg. 60) pitch the laments on the hardship and suffering of the masses, they relay the incessant blows of discomforts consequent on the greediness of political leaders:

‘We are beaten we are battered we are bitter

that our common wealth is their common loot our joint inheritance their sole inheritance’ (Vox Populi pg. 32)

‘When shall we learn’ (pg. 41) questions public ignorance on the continual trust in the insincerity of those in the corridors of leadership; why put confidence in leaders who had one time scourged us during their political regimes? Why fall again for their political gimmicks and intentions? And because we have refused learn from these past unpleasant experiences of leadership and still vote them into power; we would not cease becoming victims of political and power abuse. However, the poet’s clarion call for a redirection on political orientations, standing up for deprived rights, reestablishment of eroded African heritage and recreation of a better life is loud in ‘After the Insanity’ (pg. 16), ‘Let’s talk’(pg. 43), and ‘Listen’ (pg. 45). This intent is also established in ‘Echoes of Conscience’ (pg. 88), where the title of the collection is drawn from.

ECHOES CONSCIENCE by Kenn Amaechi Jnr

‘Ken’ (pg. 25), is a tribute to Late Ken Saro Wiwa who was unjustly executed during Late Gen Sani Abacha’s regime. ‘Ngige’ (pg. 91) and ‘The Verdict’ (pg. 95) are tributes to the Former Governor of Anambra State Chris Ngige whose election tussle was rightly judged. The relevance of these tributes is to discourage the act of injustice to innocent lives and the embrace proper exercise of justice.

Amaechi Jnr’s declares a writer’s confident creed in ‘Naked song’ (pg. 57), as a reliable voice for the masses. Perhaps, the poet’s importance attached to this point of ‘standing up to the rescue’ makes him lend his voice in ‘To you’ (pg. 98), where he condemns the nonchalant attitude and the preoccupation of political jingoism of those that are capable to stand up for the fundamental rights of the masses.

‘To you whose voice is still When our people cry To you whose face is unseen In the mirror of our struggle To you who has not lent a hands To pull down the forces of oppression against our nation’ (To you pg. 98)

While ‘Our father’ (pg. 56) is a parody for the brutality and the exercise of western power, authority and superiority, ‘Abomination’ (pg. 46) and ‘Africa’ (pg. 51) are pointers to the Western influence on Africa’s political systems and failures, most importantly, Nigeria as a focus. Yet, the echoes of conscience here is the beckoning of Africans back to roots—a conscious rise to redemption—where leadership is carried out in all sincerity and for the general good of the masses.; the kind of leadership prospect described in the poem, ‘Sacrifice’(pg. 117).

Again, poverty is predominant to politics motivated by selfishness—the poet, through the eyes of the Almajiris system in the Northern Nigeria, readdresses this in ‘Born Trowey’ (pg. 71), ‘If they Know’ (pg. 62), ‘Bound to Bondage’ (pg. 66), ‘They are no Shadows’ (pg. 68), and ‘Lords of the Manor’ (pg. 70). The Almajiri system, here, is a metaphor for a failed society where the masses wallow in abject poverty and because of this; they become portent for societal conflicts and crimes. An example of such occasions is portrayed in the lamentations of the poet in ‘Cry Beloved Senior Science Potiskum Yobe State’ (pg. 115), where he sympathized with the victims of insurgency by the Boko Haram Sect. A sect that currently threatens the security of lives and properties in the northern states of Nigeria.

ECHOES CONSCIENCE by Kenn Amaechi Jnr

‘Broken’( pg. 85), ‘Academic Razzmatazz’(pg. 81), ‘Gidan Video’(pg. 76) and ‘Ogbanje’ (pg 89) are focused on the failed system of education in Nigeria; the reduced standard of education, the celebration of failures and the neglect of academic excellence, the little or no provision of educational amenities and the plague of incessant strike actions. The poems intend to bring about appreciation of the importance of education in the society.

The satirical state of the country is portrayed in ‘My Country Fine’ (pg. 99), where the leaders ‘Loot and Go’ (pg. 101) freely. The concerned and confused state of the poet is further expressed in ‘My Missing Muse’ (pg. 102), where he declares (perhaps due to the shocking revelation, the height and heat of corrupt leaders):

‘My muse have missed My ink seized to flow My thoughts searches for a song To express the awesome fall Of yesterdays men of unbridled power From the heights of vanities In the great arraignment’. (My Missing Muse pg 102)

A dreadful state of a seared conscience is restated in ‘Turaki Wept’ (pg. 103) and this begs the question, for how long do we continue to have men like this on the seat of power?

‘Turaki wept Not because Of the wraths of the sharia And the loss Of AL-Jennah

Turaki wept Because the key to sleaze And the shade of corruption Is seized from him’ (Turaki Wept pg. 102)

‘You Lost your Groove’ (pg. 112), ‘Long Live the King’ (pg. 93) and ‘Aso Rock is Falling’ (pg. 96), are likewise poems that satirize the state of shame and degradation in the political system of Nigeria and the power tussles among political leaders.

‘Our leaders have Gone mad again… Their sickness is contagious The land await another Healings’ (Long Live the King pg. 93)

To the question of hope, Amaechi Jnr’s Echoes of Conscience sheds some rays in his transitions, somehow from the position of an eclipse in ‘We Know (pg. 104)’, ‘Let’s Move Forward’ (pg. 107), ‘Glory place’ (pg. 108) and ‘I See Hope’ (pg. 110) into the illumination of ‘The Quiet Tempest’ (pg. 114), and the prophetic declaration of ‘It shall Pass Over’ (pg. 118) ignited in the light of change.

We shall not wail with the wailing wailers Because we Love you and believe As the days of cluelessness passed away So also these days of economic cruelties Shall pass over!’ (It shall Pass Over pg. 118)

But then, the prophetic summation here is coupled with a heavy sigh, if this hope is hope indeed.

It is observed that Amaechi Jnr’s collection is flawed in the inability of the poet to use poetic language to drive the messages in some of the poems home. It is obvious that a majority of the poems in the collection are burdened with careless repetitions of ideas and banalities. There are also an overuse of enjambments and break of lines which as a result make some of the poems unnecessarily long.

This is no way to undermine the efforts of the poet, though; I feel it is important to state that poetry has a tone and a language of its own. To say the poems does not fall within any particular hitherto existing conventional or traditional poetic genre (as stated in the preface) is not an excuse for writing lines void of poetic components and as such taking liberality for granted.

To conclude with, Kenn Amaechi Jnr’s Echoes of Conscience, is a voice of revival to humanity—echoing a redefinition for political stability and social transformation—for every now and then—and now again!

…

Ayoola Goodness is an Award-winning Poet, reviewer Literary Scholar and International Director for World Union of Poets. He is the author of acclaimed collection of poems ‘Meditations‘.

OF MUFFLED VOICES AND SEARED CONSCIENCES: REVISITING THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL STATE THROUGH KENN AMAECHI JNR’S ECHOES OF CONSCIENCE— a review by AYOOLA GOODNESS TITLE: ECHOES OF CONSCIENCE AUTHOR: KENN AMAECHI JNR. GENRE: POETRY NUMBER OF PAGES: 120 PUBLISHER: WORDS RHYMES & RHYTHM PUBLISHERS…

#ECHOES OF CONSCIENCE #KENN AMAECHI JR #reviews