ONCE UPON AN EAGLE AND OTHER POEMS AGAINST POVERTY

Iyorwuese Hagher's anthology, "Once Upon an Eagle and Other Poems Against Poverty," is a passionate outcry against injustice, terror, greed, corruption, and oppression. Drawing from the Tiv traditions of Nigeria, Hagher's poems resonate as a powerful voice for the downtrodden and the weak.

With over three decades of apprenticeship in poetry, Hagher skilfully weaves together dance, song, story, and performance into an invisible chord that captures the immediacy of contemporary African tragedies. These verses go beyond mere words, to create a conduit through which our interrelated society must collectively address - chiefly, the wars against terror, injustice, and poverty.

Hagher's poetry, rooted in the Tiv song tradition, pays homage to his grandfather's timeless themes of love, hatred, envy, and the pursuit of a fulfilling life. As a politician, artist, and diplomat, Hagher introduces a unique fusion of the poetic, theatrical, and political, urging readers to perceive these verses as an expression of unity among people of all races and creeds.

This collection invites readers to engage in a dialogue with the poet, traversing the emotional landscapes and reflecting on the riddles of human existence. Written during Hagher's diplomatic tenure in Mexico, these verses encapsulate his profound encounter with cultural diversity and emphasize the need for integrating human differences in our shared global journey.

"Once Upon an Eagle and Other Poems Against Poverty" is more than a collection; it is Hagher's political manifesto, embodying hope and a resounding call for the affirmation of our shared humanity. Through these poems, a reader embarks on a universal journey, resonating with the longing for a better life for all.

 

Below is the comprehensive list of titles for the poems featured in the anthology:

1. A Day in Mexico City

2. A Diplomat's Prayer

3. Africa in Zacatecas

4. Anna and Pablo

5. A new song for a Nation

6. Anger

7. And God answered back

8. A prayer for tolerance

9. A vote for peace

10. Ballad of the widow

11. Beauty Queen

12. Blameless Children

13. Blanket appreciation

14. Blind bombs

15. Blood Diamonds

16. Born to die

17. Born to fly

18. Cancun

19. Cycles of ignorance

20. Death of a terrorist

21. Diplomacy

22. Dreaming dreams

23. Drunk poet

24. Dying in Africa's Sudan

25. Earthquake

26. Egyptian Queen

27. Emerging world

28. Engagement

29. Forgive us our debts

30. Gbeji and Zaki Biam

31. Graduation

32. Guanajuato's Festival

33. Happiest on Earth

34. Heat wave

35. Heaven's Gates

36. Home

37. It is time, except that

38. Leave Empire and go home

39. Life in the basement

40. Like dark clouds

41. Like flies we die

42. Magdalene

43. Maids

44. Manatee

45. Merchant of death

46. Money bag

47. My life

48. My farm

49. My life enemy

50. My pen a hoe

51. My sister

52. Ode to Gbaaiko lyol

53. Ode to Tarka

54. Out of the closet

55. Once Upon an Eagle

56. People like us

57. Pity the poor peasant farmer

58. Political insults

59. Prayer for the New Year

60. Predators of the Savannah

61. Procession

62. Quest into me

63. Refugee woman

64. See these girls

65. Slaves of power

66. Stolen rights

67. Street child

68. The Assembly

69. The Children of those who stole our wealth

70. The Cockerels' fight

71. The Corrupt

72. The Day of the dead

73. The Flight

74. The Keys

75. The Locomotive driver

76. The Migrant

77. The Miserable

78. The New

79. The New Scramble

80. The Peasant Farmer's Prayer

81. The Reforms

82. The Rhinoceros

83. The sad Scientist

84. The T.V. Cameras

85. The Way of choice

86. The Zocalo

87. These Poems

88. This thing politics

89. Those that steal hope

90. Thoughts of the butcher's wife

91. To the women of Africa

92. Too early too late

93. Too little too late

94. Tree of knowledge

95. Volcano in Aso Rock

96. What tribe is money?

97. Where is the peace?

98. Winning to celebrate

99. Wit denies and mind receives

100. Yet I forgive

101. Yesterday's Regrets