By Victor Uzodinma Chukwuma
3. Inner Vision
I saw the world,
A maiden one morning,
By a crossroad,
Counting her fingers.
Again, I saw her at noon,
Looking beyond the horizon,
In a black garment,
Besides gladiators.
Then, I saw her at twilight,
Take a lonely lane,
Walking head down,
With ropes in her hand.
Thereafter at night I saw her,
Dangling,
Cold and dead
Between branches.
Horrified I woke up wondering why.
4. Better the late
Better the late,
The mirage world,
Has taken a stand,
On waterfalls.
Better the late,
The gods have vowed
With bitten fingers
The death of the wailing world
Better the late,
The altars are fading,
Taking alone the lonely.
Better the late,
The land is leaving,
Leaving with the left.
Better the late than be late,
Better the late.
So he told me,
Better the late I tell you.
Victor Chukwuma, Professor of Physics, renowned for his immense contribution to the development of Astronomy and Space Science in Nigeria, is Fellow of the Astronomical Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Physics.