Review of David Oracle Onotu’s “Ode To Kachana”

The poem, “Ode to Kachana”, was written by Poetic Oracle, a Jos based Writer, Poet and spoken word artist. ‘Kachana’ according to Google search means “a happy person desiring to see others happy as well, striving to inspire others through an engaging sense of humor” and he happens to be in a conversation with her.

“Ode to Kachana” is a poem with different themes ranging from beauty, joy, hope,strength and politics. It’s main aim is to give us an outlook of the world and the beauty of nature and to look on for hope. The opening line which says “There is not a quiet a spirit,Aunt K, you strengthen my believes”, Apparently, Aunt K is she whom the ode was written to I.e. Kachana and she appears to be a strong incentive. “There is magic in the rising of sun, healing in the stampede of morning warmth”. This exposes us to the beauty of nature, how sunrise or a new day reveals the magic of living on, which also signifies hope for better.

“The luminescence in your eyes tell of gentle sagas and secret joys which only age may not bestow”. This tells us that earth is a hero that has a lot of stories of joy to tell but which cannot be exhausted by time and age.
“In my country, Aunt K, there are fertile fields” which depicts wealth, “charming sights” which depicts beauty and “welcoming smiles” which depict a happy people. This brings us to the reality of things away from natures beauty and politics in “though many times my brothers, the one in big politics, govern our people in a way most detested by our people”, this expresses dissatisfaction, explaining that the worlds histories aren’t diverse and that independence is our blood because we can’t be separated from them. The “eastern mothers” tell us of a dedicated bunch, women who are hardworking and would push though any circumstance to take care of their kids, they “wear bright smiles” and they “do not tire even for miles”. “We must live, there is yet earth to trek so we survive”, this is a call for perseverance and patience, that though the worst may come, there’s hope for better. “Strong root, fertile fields, mighty trees”.

The poem has a symbolical meaning which is of the idea that though we have had bad times (history) and the present system of governance is not favorable (politics), the rising of the sun every morning and the strength of our mothers should be our incentive.

Many sentences in the poem were not well spoken, they were either muffled, over thrones by the soundtrack or not well pronounced.

The poem “Ode to Kachana” is a good listen, especially in our present dispensation where our leaders are not leading well and our hope for a better land is lost. The beautiful trees, mothers smiles, green fields and sunrise should lighten us up.

LARDO