THE GARDEN CITY – CHARLENE CHIAMAKA CHIKEZIE
In 1913, a great city was born
Out of the heart of the southern Nigeria- Rivers State
Initially for the sole purpose of coal exportation
Gradually and ever so consistently, they blossomed
In diverse directions; they sprouted
Waxing stronger; industrially and commercially
Exalting the nation; financially and culturally
Augmenting our revenue drastically
Impervious to economical deterioration 1,947,000 people in habitation, yet unity in maximization
I sing of Port Harcourt, the garden city!
A wonderful place; intricately carved from creation
Luxuriating in hospitality and production
Like a plantation in full bloom; they flourished
Like a woman in her prime, they boomed
Amidst the massive benefit of the oil- minerals
They throve in development of other resources
With fishes, great vegetation, oil and a tropical monsoon climate
As their natural endowments
They stand tall in excellence
The Garden city; a centre of tourism
Playing host to magnificent seaports and airport
Enhancing sports and physical fitness with two stadia
Boosting productivity with two standard refineries;
Expanding the nation‟s horizons
In their un-daunting quest for knowledge
They sought to produce and educationally refine individuals
From their “state of the arts” primary, secondary and tertiary institutions
From far and near, people stride in
To tap from the “Garden city” awesomeness
Fishers‟ a-fishing
Traders‟ a-trading
Oil drillers‟ a-drilling
Land tillers‟ a-tilling,
In “The Garden city” of Rivers State.
Charlene Chiamaka Chikezie,
Charlene Chiamaka Chikezie, is a Science Laboratory Technology student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri. She developed a passion for writing right from her primary school days. Her hobbies include: Singing, listening to music and playing basketball.
Poet’s Note: This poem “The Garden City” outlines the eminent and phenomenal features of Port Harcourt city in a poetic sense of reality with the intent of stirring unceasing interest in readers as they begin to discover peculiar qualities of the city which they never realized was there.
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