Winnowing (A Collection of Poems) is the seventh "Collection of Poems", published by Orok Otu Duke, following: Clementines,Sentinels,My Song, Sentinels, Dances on the Plains, Ellipses and Treasures. You are invited to join in his "Winnowing". Here is an introduction to Duke Town, his place of origin in Calabar...





"Duke Town

The horizons do not age,

As I see the rivers running back home,

Salivating over the sensuous rhythms of my town.

In this milieu, the mangrove trees still stand as sentries,

Like the celebrated ceremonial guards of London.

Standing on the only blocked marina in my continent,

I still feel the presence of the Portuguese,

The Germans and the British Visitors and conquistadores in the millennia past.

We had a great start at first,

But heartaches and pains soon followed our steps,

Words that never existed in our vocabulary,

Soon joined the enemy's constabulary.

Now fear for crime

Runs very high.

Holding firmly to the reins of ruins

Becomes a debacle which only

The maniacally bemused minds

Would really appreciate.

With Oron looking like a cleft

And Henshaw Town to my left,

Obutong stays close to the right like an intrusive elder brother,

While Creek Town and Adiabo look on like nosey sisters,

Ogling NNS Anansa, Eastern Naval Command and Amphibious Brigade.

This is a town that has defied history.

Welcome to Duke Town."