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The Beauty Of Nature And Contrast In Civilization

Published

4 years ago

Sep 20, 2020.

The world is filled with plethora of chasm in every aspect of its being. From the wide gulf between various humans that occupy it to the disparity in development of the many enclaves that constitue it. The discrepancies in civilization of enclaves shapes the world of gleeful itinerants who traversed it because they have been exposed to the peculiarities what each enclave is imbued with. The situation and what’s become the identity of these enclaves are shaped by different factors top of which is the disposition of their inhabitants.

In his beautifully crafted and compelling travelogue, the illustrious and cerebral son of Ekiti, Femi Odere, took us on a fascinating journey that provides the reader with the glistening panorama of the world view. He availed us the opportunity to see the difference of both worlds.

Below is the intriguing account of itinerary around the world.

ODE TO ODYSSEY

From the heavenly
To the umbilical.
From the ethereal
To a world of coarse matter.
Between the aluminum tube on air
And the motorized devices on land.
Between the awesomeness of the Allegheny mountain
And the serenity of Ekiti hills.
Between the Ohio Turnpike
And the deathly Akure-Benin-Awka ‘unpiked’ pathway.
Between the prairies in Canada
And the arid lands in Abaji to Kaduna.
Between John’s Cafe in Upper Manhattan
And the eating shed in Ijesha Isu.
Between the walks in Washington D.C
And the ones on Ekoro Road in Abule Egba.
Between the strolls in the Pacific Palisade
And looking over my shoulder in the projects on Chicago’s West Side.
Between the parks in the Florida panhandle
And the park at Fajuyi.
Between the exotic wines in Nnewi
And nature’s wine that can only be enjoyed under a tree on Akure-Ado road.
All embodies my Odyssey.
They reflect a clash of civilization.
A desire to find modernity in the rural.
Or looking for the rural in modernity.
It’s looking for meaning
In meaninglessness.
Yes, Odysseus is here.
The Phoenix is such a patient bird
Living to die to live.
Drosophila populates the earth
Yet they are unfabulous.