Romanus Egudu As A Historical And Virtuous Poet

Abstract

This is a critical essay that examines the Nigerian Romanus Egudu‟s poetry, contained in his new book of poems called Prayer of the Powerless, as the work of a historical and virtuous poet. The argument posited is that the poet dwells on the past, present and future history of governance in his country in such a way that reveals him as a rebel with strong moral convictions. Egudu‟s pre-occupancy and poetic strategy are such that enable him to present a collective “mourning” over the social and moral death and preemption of liberty in the advent of civil democracy or in the wake of military and post-military rule in contemporary Nigeria. Visible in his poetry is the power of genuine sympathy, which could resuscitate a broadly comprehensive vision of moral governance.