Joseph Ogbonna - National Poetry Month

About Joseph Ogbonna:

Joseph C Ogbonna is a prolific poet from Nigeria. He is very widely published. Some of his works have been published in print and online. He is also an Amazon international best selling co-author. He is also an amateur historian, and a former high school history teacher.

His poems 'Napoleon to Josephine and Josephine to Napoleon' were aired by the BBC Radio 3 on May the 2nd, 2021 and December the 23rd, 2022.

Joseph Ogbonna was first drawn to poetry after reading the works of John Milton and Alexander Pope as an elementary school pupil. He was inspired by the metaphysical contents and the delicacy of language of both classical poets. Their words conveyed and still convey to him, the zenith of literature that every lover of poetry should crave for.

What Inspires Joseph?

His poetic works cut across different areas such as; philosophy, religion, love, Christmas, nature, childhood poverty, African poetry and so on.

Romantic and love poems are his speciality. Love poems are much more poignant, with a much deeper meaning than all other genres of poetry. Their versatility in creative language and content have the ability to capture the minds of lovers, intending lovers and large audiences.

Poetry derives a greater part of its definition from love poems. Love poems simply amplify expressions much more than all other genres of poetry. This explains why he writes more love poems than any other genre of literature. They amplify emotions, so do they, our hearts.

Other categories or genres of poetry amplify voices, but certainly not hearts or emotions.

Joseph's View on Authors:

Financial inducements should never be considered by authors, especially romantic authors.

Joseph Ogbonna very frankly believes that the very worst of writers are those who write exclusively for financial gains. Authors should never be daunted by rejections. The very best of authors are authors who write passionately, and are hardly or never at all daunted by rejections.

Joseph Ogbonna lives in Enugu, Nigeria with his wife, Chizoba Josef-Chidindu.

Joseph's Favorite Poem:

The Unknown Soldier

I am your unknown soldier, sleeping and unsung.

I fought, got maimed, I was taken prisoner and hung.

I spilled my blood for the imperialist's glory.

I gave my own life for the general's story.

I promoted him with an indelible name.

I got his name enshrined in history's hall of fame.

He drank my precious blood for his exaltation.

He is eulogized in every celebration.

He enjoys the war booty I lavished on him.

My exploits are sung in his honour like a hymn.

I conquered vast lands for the imperialist's greed.

For his selfish ambition I was made to bleed.

On the gains of my own conquest he came to feed.

But to oblivion I have always been consigned.

My own heroism has never been defined.

I am none else but the age-old soldier unknown,

the one whose heroism will never be known.

The state buries my bravery in an unmarked grave,

With no record at all of all to it I gave.

Where else could my honoured general be interred?

But the stately mausoleum that makes him revered.