Poetry My Girlfriend

Poet's note: The commentary written by a critical analyst on "Poetry My Girlfriend". The poem begins with an allusion to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, where the poet refers to poetry as his lost rib, emphasizing how poetry completes him. The next line, "Eve endowed with more than hib," is a play on words where hib means a small amount or quantity, suggesting that poetry is not just a small part of the poet's life, but it is everything to him. The second stanza introduces poetry as the queen of the Ken Saro-Wiwa English house, an iconic Nigerian author, and poet. This line establishes poetry's authority and importance, which the poet further solidifies by calling it his only spouse. The poet also describes poetry as a constant source of joy in his life, "always clothed in mood that unveil smile," and her "cough tone rhyme" which adds a musical element to her speech. The third stanza paints a vivid image of poetry's beauty, using colorful imagery to describe the lines and stanzas that poetry creates. The poet uses the metaphor of a rainbow to show how poetry's words bring a spectrum of emotions and colors to his life. The fourth stanza praises the technical skills of poetry, referring to her "ordained diction" and how she rhythmically encrypts aesthetic emotions. The poet also suggests that if poetry's character were a song in verse, each meter would be a layer of enlightenment reserve, highlighting how poetry can teach and inspire. In the fifth stanza, the poet describes poetry as a source of comfort, "Her company eradicate agony." The line "Poetry you must hail from Ogoni," is a reference to the poet's Nigerian heritage and the Ogoni people who have a rich history of storytelling and poetry. The sixth stanza shows the depth of the poet's love for poetry, describing it as the only eagle on his planet of free-verse. The eagle is a symbol of freedom and strength, suggesting that poetry empowers the poet and sets him free. In the seventh stanza, the poet personifies poetry, making it his girlfriend. He imagines himself as the master of poetry, prostrate before her poetic prowess, ready to receive her inspiration. The final lines of the poem, "She's the mother of my unborn literature, and the architect of my enlightened future," suggests that poetry is not just a source of inspiration but is also the foundation of the poet's creative work. Overall, "Poetry My Girlfriend" is a beautifully crafted ode to poetry, demonstrating the power of language and the impact it can have on our lives. The poet uses various poetic devices to convey his admiration for poetry and how it has influenced his life, making the poem a celebration of creativity and the written word