Yeah. Have you read any of Lenri Peters’ poems? I'd urge you to read his poem titled “She came in silken drapes”.

Jaylynn:


An advantage? Wow. Really?

This is beautiful!!! You should consider writing poetry, too.

As a huge fan of Mario Puzo, I've always gone back to read his The Godfather after the first time I read it a few years back. I always notice something new that strikes me each time I read the novel again. So I decided to read it again on Monday, 18th January, 2021. After finishing it on Tuesday, 19th January, 2021, it dawned on me that I should document a few life lessons I've been able to pick up in the novel. I urge you all to follow me as I show you these lessons on the subsequent paragraphs below.

1. Surround Yourself with Loyal People
One of the reasons why the first godfather, Don Vito Corleone, was powerful and respected even by the other five New York crime families was because he had loyal people around him. He had a wife who was loyal to a fault to him. She never goes against his decision, arguing with him in the process. He had Clemenzia, he earned the loyalty of the ruthless Lucas Brasi. One great lesson both Dons— Vito Corleone and his son, Michael Corleone— were teaching is that with loyal people around you, you've got an impenetrable fortress!

2. Be Careful of Sex
Ah sex! One thing that has cut short the destinies and lives of would've been great men and women is sex (no apologies for being religious here!). Sex is very good when practised and done under the confines of marriage, no doubt! But the problem here is this: sex outside the confines of marriage, allowing excessive want of it to control you is destructive and fatal. In the novel, sex led to the collapse of Johnny Fontane's marriage and almost destroyed his career( especially after bedding the girl his boss, Jack Woltz, had his eyes on). This act of unfaithfulness towards his wife, Virginia, and having sex with the "broads" in Hollywood made Don Vito Corleone mad at him, abandoning him in his predicament. Though Don Vito Corleone and Don Michael Corleone were ruthless, they knew how deadly sex could be when allowed to control one. That's why both men never allowed their joysticks to do the thinking for them. So, I urge you to never allow sex to lead you astray.

3. Love your Children
Be a loving father/mother to your children. This can never be overemphasized. Don Vito Corleone loved all his children. This was why Sonny and Michael were out for vengeance when Sollozo made an attempt on the Don's life. Loving your children doesn't necessarily mean buying gifts alone for them; rather, the time you give them, the impartiality and love you show towards them goes a long. This is why Don Vito Corleone says, "A man who is not a father to his children can never be a real man". If you've been deadbeat father/mother or to your children, I urge you to change.

4. Stay away from Greed/ Be Content
Sonny's lack of contentment was one of the things that almost destroyed the Corleones. His inquiry about the percentage the Tattaglias would be taking from Sollozo's drug deal was a silly mistake. It was unfortunate that Sonny lacked contentment in spite of the wealth and power at the disposal of the Corleones. His greed destroyed him. Contentment in life brings unlimited peace. You should be content with what you have, especially money. While you chase your goals and dreams for that better life you've always wanted, you should never toe the path of greed. If what you set your eyes upon would bring you trouble, then you should be okay with what you have at the moment.

5. Don't Say too Much
In my opinion, the trigger of the whole battle that shook the Corleones was Sonny's mouth( and greed, of course!). When Sollozo brought his drug smuggling business idea to Don Vito Corleone, seeking for his political power to protect his drug smuggling trade, Sonny made a mistake: he spoke. Though he tried correcting himself when he saw the Don's countenance, Sollozo had noticed the crack in the Corleones. The human tongue is capable of giving life and death, depending on how it is used. Unlike Sonny, Don Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone are careful with the words they say. It is better we don't even say anything than saying something that could bring us or others destruction. Jealously, guard your words! Also, never say anything when your emotion is a blindfold at that moment!

6. Know When to Surrender/Quit
Remember the popular saying, "quitters don't win", right? Well, I'm here to tell you that sometimes it is better to quit and surrender so as to stay alive and make your next move. Don Vito Corleone and Don Michael Corleone were masters in this act. After Sonny's death, and Michael's exile in Sicily after killing Sollozo and Officer McCluskey, Don Vito Corleone knew he had to make a move. And what was this move? Surrendering and 'quiting'! In surrendering and quiting, telling his adversaries, the Tattaglias and the Barzinis, he knew that they'd think he'd lost his power. Well, after bringing Michael home and earning his adversaries' trusts, they all paid for it with their lives! While Don Vito Corleone and Michael knew this lesson, Moe Greene, on the hand, didn't. He paid for it with his life when he refused to surrender when Michael offered him a deal he couldn't refuse. Jack Woltz paid for it with his most prized horse, Khartoum. Surrendering and quiting doesn't make you weaker. Rather, it gives you the opportunity to get close to your enemies, strategizing in a better way

7. Let your Enemies Underrate You
The importance of your enemies underrating you cannot be overemphasized. Don Vito Corleone and Michael knew this. While in exile in Sicily, Michael made everybody underrate him. Many people thought that he was just another peasant on the streets of Sicily. His strength was only displayed there when he met Apollonia's father for the first time. It was because the enemies of the family had underrated the family, that was why Michael could make such daring move towards the end of the novel— he wiped out all the traitors and enemies of their family. Even if you're powerful, never show it everywhere and everytime. When your enemies underrate you, it gives you the opportunity to take all of them by surprise.

8. Giving Gifts/Rendering Help Makes you Stronger
One of the greatest means of attaining any level of power is by giving gifts. Don Vito Corleone and Michael understood this. They never said no to anybody who came to them for help. They knew that if you help anybody, that person automatically owes you a debt repayable someday. This a skill anybody who wants to be a godfather should learn. This is why you shouldn't shut your doors to anybody when they come for help. However, you shouldn't try to help if it is beyond your capability or strength.

9. Never Betray Anybody
As a person, you know how painful and heartbreaking it is to be betrayed. However, you should strive not to be the betrayer of those who have entrusted their secrets to your ears. One of Michael's bodyguards in Sicily, Fabrizzio, betrayed him. He plotted with those who wanted Michael dead. Well, he paid with his life. Paulie Gatto paid with his life. Carlo Rizzi paid with his life, too, after his betrayal cost Sonny his life. So I beg you all, practise the act of "omerta"! Don't break anyone's trust! Ask Judas! Ask Brutus! They will tell you what it cost them!

10. Be a Man/Woman of Vision and Foresight
One of the reasons that made Don Vito Corleone attain the level of power he had was his ability to see and plan ahead for the future. He knew that power was beyond the gun. That was why he sent many Italian kids in his neighbourhood to school. He knew that educating them for tomorrow would make him stronger than any of his opposition. Some of these boys became politicians, lawyers, assistant district attorneys, and even judges. With this, he attained political power. This is why Don Vito Corleone says, "A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns". He knew the importance of vision and foresight. You should plan and look ahead with any decision you are making. Be calculative!

There are other life lessons in the novel. I urge you to buy it and read it. Thank you for reading!


PS: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44, you should do something about threads from Poetry section not gracing the front page. Thank you!

Ciara9251:

Aty... Anatomy

Oh, I see. It's an advantage to you as a poet. You could make allusions, metaphors and use terms only found in field when writing poems.

Ciara9251:


At least you're a Literature student and it's your field. My field has nothing to do with writing. I'm just doing because I'm working towards a certain thing.

What is your field?

Ciara9251:


Thank you so much, dear. I really appreciate ❤

LOL. I didn't say I won't be sharing any of my works here. I can't let the ghost readers and all get to me. Nah

Bill Gate didn't become a billionaire by giving up. If I'm to do that, what do I gain?

You're welcome! That's the spirit!

joseph1832:
Yea I understand what you've saying but hey trust me, Nigerians don't appreciate poetry so it's not just a Nairaland thing.

Most poems you see here that have thousands of views didn't just get the views overnight. It accumulated with time. So patience is key. Besides if you continue to write I remember once telling you you'd evolve like so many of us.

Out of curiosity, which other site poems get viewed more than Nairaland?.

This is so true! I've written many poems on my Facebook a few years back, but I realized that sometimes I had zero comments with as low as 3 likes. I was having sleepless nights writing poems, yet people weren't interested. It's the passion writing poetry and a few words of encouragement from some of my lecturers back then that still makes me write till this moment.

Ciara9251:

Mm-hmm. I knew the views weren't going to be like I wanted. So... to avoid further , I took it off.

Don't let this discourage you from writing. Even if you're no longer sharing them here, just keep writing and sharing wherever your heart leads you.

Ciara9251:


By the way, why did you delete this?

I felt that it wasn't 'welcomed' here, so I took it 'home'.

Ciara9251:


You did make a lot of sense here. The zeal to be posting here is gradually leaving me, and not only me. I know they're a whole lot of people here who are pretty intelligent...give them a pen and watch them bring their ideas to life. But after all is done, they don't get what they really deserve and it's really painful. I thought I was the only one talking about this.

It's a pity that the owner of this forum and his moderators don't give a damn about poetry section. I see no changes!

There's no air here! Seun, you and your moderators do not focus on this section at all! Is it because you'll never find a single nude or cleavage bearing picture here? Many young and gifted poets have stopped writing poems here(and the few left are on the same path) because of the fact that their poems rarely grace front page! Won't it be a thing of honour to you to see a young Nigerian poet win a well recognized literary award, giving credit to your forum as a place where he/she was encouraged? Look at Jigs, PoeticTwenty, Jessica and other consistent poets whose names I've forgotten at the moment, you're dimming their zeal to post here by not encouraging them! What prevents a poem per week on the front page? Oh! Do we have to attach cleavage bearing pictures to poetry before they get recognized? You may personally not enjoy poetry, but I tell you this: A LOT OF PEOPLE DO!

PS: this a note from a concerned member of this forum.

Deleted

@ liznificent, I like this. Keep writing!

I fill you.
You get high off me.
Drunk but yet sober,
You're beyond plastic state.
You're my all...my all!

You set my soul free;
A rebirth, boundless
Like the West wind
Blowing on the seas.

When the sun sets,
And we get old,
Like faithful penguins,
I'll cherish you!

We dey contemporary times na. Thank you!

AryEmber:
Babalawo wey wan do IT? Hilarious! Nice one Seezzy

Thank you!

Ann2012:
Short and interesting
Well done OP

Though I'm more comfortable with writing poetry, I'll try. But I'm done with this one. Are you from Kogi state, especially Central Senatorial district?

LightQueen:
Okay give us another one.. Are'hen!!

Camdan, LightQueen! I'm just joining the writers of Prose fiction. Besides, if di tori too long, I'd spoil it.

LightQueen:
End Ke!

Seezzy I no dey like this kind joke

Five years after Omeiza's graduation from the university, he was jobless still. It is not as if he was a lazy person, no, in fact he was one of the hardest workers amongst his peers. A 2.1 graduate of Economics of the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi state, Omeiza Philips is a young man respected for his intelligence both during and after his stay in the University.

"God, I'm tired of trekking the whole length and breadth of Lokoja in my quest for employment," He soliloquizes aloud to himself. He hears a knock at the door of the room and parlour apartment he resides. Actually, Omeiza still lives with his parents, Mr and Mrs Philips Enesi. Omeiza goes towards the door to see who was knocking.

"Good morning, bro," Onuka greeted. Onuka and Omeiza were best of friends right from their University days. And as fate would have it, both of them were still jobless five years after graduating. Onuka was the most intelligent of the two. He even graduated as the best student of their department in their graduating set. He graduated with a CGPA of 4.95. "Oh boy, wetin dey happen na? I've been knocking since and it seemed as if there was no body left at home, I hope you've not been thinking?" He inquired.

"Mtcheeeeew. You know me too well na and you know my predicament — I mean our predicament. For how long are we going to continue living this type of life? For how long are we going to continue begging for as little as 500 Naira from our retired parents? I mean, because they're aged and retired and the fact that they are our parents, is it not our turn to start taking care of them, having sponsored our education from primary to the University level? For how long are..."

"My brother," Onuka interrupts, "you've spoken well like all hardworking and sensible young men should speak. See, it's also what I was pondering upon before I left home this morning. Like you, I'm tired of being intimidated even by the people who had to depend on me during exams before they could even pass and graduate from the University. See, I've got something to tell you (He looks around mischievously). Are your parents at home?" He asks.

"No, they've gone for the Saturday morning prayers in my church", He replies. "This one you're scanning the whole house with your eyes so, I hope I'm safe o," he adds jokingly.

"Ahn-ahn, wetin you mean na," he laughs as he replies. "Wetin I gain if I wicked to a brother of mine like you?" He asks rhetorically.

"Better o!" Omeiza laughs and Onuka joins in too.

"On a serious note bro, I've discovered how we can hammer, I mean get rich and change our standard of living for the better. In fact I have..."

"Oya ka nhim na!" Omeiza cuts in.

"Calm down na, adai. It's the new craze in town now o."

"Do quick make you hit me with am na," he said with total attentiveness.

"Na pant hunting o."

"Pant wetin?" He queried
"Brother, na pant business o," he reiterates. He tries to control his anger as he sees Omeiza laughing so heartily. "Baba, why you dey laugh na? Na Gordons I bi or I look like I Go Dye I for ya eyes?"

"No na bro, no vex o. But no tell me say you believe about that pant talk wey dey spread all over on the Internet o?" He asks after he's done laughing. "Na lies and deceit na. You sef suppose reason am wella na, e make sense for your ears?"

"Adai, I was as unbelieving as you're now on this issue before until I saw Peter. You remember him na?"

"Yes, that bad guy that was always up to no good in our University days."

"Him don hammer now o. O boy, if you see him Benz now, you go bow for am o. Him na one of the biggest boys for town now o."

"Ehn, ehn. Guy, hit me well na." Omeiza gets totally interested now. "How him take hammer na? Him discover oyel for their backyard?"

"No, bro. He told me he was jobless too immediately after graduation. In fact, he told me things got so bad for him until he got tired and joined pant hunters. Na pant him discover o," Onuka replies.

"Guy, man pikin don too suffer o. I no fit continue for this sufferness again. Poverty must die because I want to spoil my father and mother. You saw what they had to go through na to see me through school."
"Are you telling me? You know I'm like a part of your family. I witnessed it firsthand. Omeiza, are you in?" He asks sternly.

"Yes na bro. See, I dey lock door now go anywhere with you sef", Omeiza adds with seriousness

"Good bro. We'll both go to either Pata or Felele market to go buy okrika pant for the ritual (Omeiza nods his head in agreement). Peter told me that it must be a used pant. Do you know why I want us to use okrika pants?" He asks.

"Nah, bro." Omeiza replies.

"It's because na oyinbo use am o. Besides, if we use Nigerian girls pant, na so-so naira go just dey come our way."

"It's true o. I just admire your intelligence the more, bro." Omeiza chips in.

"If we use oyinbo pant, na dollars we go just dey get for akkant. You know it will go a long way, especially as a result of the crashing of the Naira."

Both Omeiza and Onuka heads out to the market. They couldn't get any from Pata market, so they head towards Felele 'International' market. After almost two hours in Felele 'International' market, they head to Gadumo, where the strongest medicine man in Lokoja lived, Baba Dede. On getting to Gadumo, they get to Baba Dede's house quickly because he is very popular in the neighborhood. Then they knock on at his door.

"My pikin, make una enter o." Baba Dede answers from his room. This surprises Omeiza and Onuka because the voice was as if it was expecting them.

"Good afternoon, Baba Dede." Onuka greets as they both enter his sitting room.

"Afternoon, my sons. I know why you come here (Omeiza looks at Onuka in total amazement). You wan rich, abi no bi so?" He asks them.

"Na so, Baba." They both answer him.

"And na why una bring paiyint com, sef."

"Yes, Baba." They both answer in unison.

"Hahahahaha", he laughs very heartily. This angers both Omeiza and Onuka who had to control and hide it so as not to offend him. "But who tell una say paiyint dey make person hammer?"

"Baba, news about am full internet o. Also, one of our friends wey do am say e dey work." Onuka tells him.

"Why you know tell am to direct you to him babalawo wey do am for am?" Baba Dede inquiries seriously.

"Him say di Baba don kpai". Onuka replies. Baba Dede starts laughing in a mischievous tone. This became a surprise to both Omeiza and Onuka.

"My pikin, you know why I dey laugh? (Both Onuka shakes their head in the negative). Na because say him don play una head. Dat una friend na ordinary armed robber wey no get ABC jazz (Onuka opens his mouth in shock). He know say if him tell you ( he points at Onuka), you go cast am for town. But him know say as paiyint tori full town now, na dat one go better small to take lie. If you see any babalawo wey dey turn paiyint to money, come carry me go there make I go do 3 months IT for 'Paiyintonimics'. Na wash, my pikin."

"Baba, I think say na true him tell me o." Onuka tells Baba Dede.

"My pikin, na lies. All na wash him give you." Baba Dede affirms to him. "See, because say my forefathers dem don tell me say una dey hardworking, dem say make I tell una say una time to hammer don near finish. As dem tell me sef, both of una go get work two months from now for different international organizations. Make una no worry again. E go better."

"Thank you, Baba Dede." Both Omeiza and Onuka prostate to show their gratitude.

"Just no dey tired to send una CV to the agency wey go send email to both of una." He adds further.

"Thank you, Baba". Both of them still prostrated.

"Make una go in peace, my pikin. My forefathers go with una". Baba Dede ushers them to get up.

" Thank you very much, Baba Dede. " Omeiza replies when standing up. Onuka does same.

"My Forefathers go see una through." Baba Dede reiterates as Onuka and Omeiza exit his house.

As they walk a distance away from Baba Dede's house, Omeiza tells Onuka, "Didn't I tell you? Nothing like that, it's all a farce promoted by bloggers."

"I should have known o. That Peter is bloody liar. It's a shame that I had to fall for it. I'm no longer interested in getting-rich-quick again o. In fact, when we get to that bridge just after Old Poly Quarters, I dey trowey dem these useless paiyints we go buy for market." Onuka says.

Both young men depart for their respective homes and told no soul about their wasted adventure in their quest for money through pants. Hopefully, they wait upon Baba Dede's prophecy to come to pass.

THE END.

2019 © Seezzy

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the writer, Seezzy

All of the names, places and objects mentioned in this narrative are nothing but the imagination of the writer. Because they are all the writer's imagination, any resemblance is nothing but pure coincidence. Thank you.

Until all of the inks in my quills were poured out,
I never really understood what freedom was all about.

Mr Tosdam, this is poetry at its best. The imagery employed in each stanzas is visible even to the blind, deaf and dumb. Thank you for writing when you got inspired.

"When my strength becomes my enemy, my pen becomes my will to fight"— this is deep. Impeccable Sarang.

In temples meant to be sacred,
There lies the worst forms of hatred,
Even from preachers preaching on pulpits
Though members too are culprits.
Tithe collection is glorified,
While God's flocks are terrified
By these preachers on daily basis
Who see illiterates as a polluted oasis
And the names of a poor member,
They hate to remember!
God isn't happy
And these preachers can doubt me
Because I have not even a follower
Like a man on the path so narrower.
Though I wasn't on the path
But He called me to the path,
Gave me a leverage
Just so I could deliver this message.
God cannot be mocked,
Even when I'm locked
Behind the darkest bars
Like forgotten toys in jalopy cars!

Dear WordSayer, what app did you use in writing it on that picture right below it?

A very nice poem, I must say.

Happy birthday sir!

The Famished Road is one great book I'll never forget!

Thanks, basille. I've replied.

basille:
Beautiful. Seezzy, I got your mail.