Our Civilization Collapsed (Poem)(Repost)

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Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA

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Jul 26, 2024, 8:18:18 AM7/26/24
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By Chidi Anthony Opara 

A new day
Without the sonorous 
Songs of songbirds 
And the bustle 
Of busy humans and animals.

The sun struggled to rise,
Struggled to shine,
Weighed down
By the dark couds of July.

The clouds unleashed rain, 
The rain drenched and drained 
Our knapsack of knowledge.

The iron birds 
Could no longer fly,
The medicine men,
The medicine women
No longer know 
The cure for our illnesses,
Our civilization collapsed.

The rain 
Rained in torrents
And drenched our earth
Devoid now
Of our knapsack of knowledge.

(Poem presented as social service, all rights reserved)


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Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, Institute Of Information Management Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates.

He is a recipient of International Award/Recognition For Excellence In Data And Information Management, with 253 mentions on Academia(academia.edu)as at July 22nd, 2024.

More about him here: https://independent.academia.edu/ChidiAnthonyOpara

Oluwatoyin Adepoju

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Jul 26, 2024, 5:10:26 PM7/26/24
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Beautiful.

Was this written in response to Covid?


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Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA

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Jul 26, 2024, 5:30:16 PM7/26/24
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Nope.

In response to the recent internet shutdown.

-CAO.
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Michael Afolayan

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Jul 27, 2024, 2:52:06 AM7/27/24
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Beautiful. Simply beautiful!

MOA






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Oluwatoyin Adepoju

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Jul 27, 2024, 12:18:40 PM7/27/24
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Okay 

Nope.

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Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, Institute Of Information Management Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates.

He is a recipient of International Award/Recognition For Excellence In Data And Information Management, with 253 mentions on Academia(academia.edu)as at July 22nd, 2024.

More about him here: https://independent.academia.edu/ChidiAnthonyOpara

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Emeagwali, Gloria (History)

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Jul 28, 2024, 2:07:53 PM7/28/24
to 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series
A beautiful poem, indeed - although I would
replace “animals” with “beasts”in line 5-
for alliteration purposes.🤗



Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
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www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU

From: 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2024 6:24 PM
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Our Civilization Collapsed (Poem)(Repost)
 

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Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA

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Jul 29, 2024, 1:15:13 AM7/29/24
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Gloria,

If you do, you would achieve your "alliteration", but what would the word "beast" connote to your readers? Would such connotation be in line with the "personality" of the poem?

-CAO 

On Sunday 28 July 2024, 'Emeagwali, Gloria (History)' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
A beautiful poem, indeed - although I would
replace “animals” with “beasts”in line 5-
for alliteration purposes.🤗



Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries
www.vimeo.com/gloriaemeagwali
www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU

From: 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Friday, July 26, 2024 6:24 PM
Beautiful. Simply beautiful!

MOA






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Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, Institute Of Information Management Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates(https://updatesonnews.substack.com)

Michael Afolayan

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Jul 29, 2024, 1:15:13 AM7/29/24
to 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series
I even like the graphic and trumpeting nature of the word "beasts." I'm sure being a free stylist, Chidi will have no problem incorporating the suggested synonym. I wonder if Chidi is planning an anthology of his poems; it's a book I would eagerly purchase!





Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA

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Jul 29, 2024, 3:24:55 AM7/29/24
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"I even like the graphic and trumpeting nature of the word "beasts."-Michael Afolayan.

(1)The savage connotation of the word "beasts" wouldn't be in tune with the "personality" of the poem.

(2) Moreover, In terms of recital, the word "animals" would flow better than "beasts".

-CAO.



On Sunday 28 July 2024, 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
I even like the graphic and trumpeting nature of the word "beasts." I'm sure being a free stylist, Chidi will have no problem incorporating the suggested synonym. I wonder if Chidi is planning an anthology of his poems; it's a book I would eagerly purchase!





On Sunday, July 28, 2024 at 02:07:53 PM EDT, 'Emeagwali, Gloria (History)' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:


A beautiful poem, indeed - although I would
replace “animals” with “beasts”in line 5-
for alliteration purposes.🤗



Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries
www.vimeo.com/gloriaemeagwali
www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU

From: 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Friday, July 26, 2024 6:24 PM
Beautiful. Simply beautiful!

MOA






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Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, Institute Of Information Management Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates(https://updatesonnews.substack.com)

Michael Afolayan

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Jul 29, 2024, 4:39:41 PM7/29/24
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You are the poet. You know what is best for your art. I salute you. Keep writing. Keep chanting/reciting. Kudos!

MOA






-CAO.

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Chidi Anthony Opara is a Poet, Institute Of Information Management Professional Fellow, MIT Chief Data Officer Ambassador and Editorial Adviser at News Updates(https://updatesonnews.substack.com)

He is a recipient of International Award/Recognition For Excellence In Data And Information Management, with 253 mentions on Academia(academia.edu)as at July 22nd, 2024.

More about him here: https://independent.academia.edu/ChidiAnthonyOpara

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Emeagwali, Gloria (History)

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Jul 29, 2024, 4:39:47 PM7/29/24
to 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series
I am sure Chidi has enough 
poems for an anthology.  He should
take your suggestion.TF the book
guru/ maestro  could publish it at 
his Pan African Press.


Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries
www.vimeo.com/gloriaemeagwali
www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU
From: 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2024 5:26 PM
To: 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>

Emeagwali, Gloria (History)

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Jul 29, 2024, 4:39:47 PM7/29/24
to Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA, usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Good point, poet.

Note though that “beasts”
are sometimes nice, friendly, 
lovable creatures - biblically 
speaking, and elsewhere.

But it’s your poem so you
have the last word😁


Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries
www.vimeo.com/gloriaemeagwali
www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU

From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM, CDOA <chidi...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2024 3:31 PM
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