Article 6 – Poems on Northern Culture
Poems by Damilola Joseph
- Admiration of their Mukluks
The Equator girl journeys away from her domain
and arrives at a Northern Canadian town
so distant from all that she has ever known.
It is not until now does she know there are
their traditional footwears, how and where are
they to be found she ponders over.
Stranger she is to the winter of Northern Manitoba.
daily she has to walk back and forth on snowy roads
faced with the struggle of unemployment.
She sees many trucks and people with heavy coats
the penniless Equator girl does not understand anything
yet she relentlessly drops her CV at many doors in Cold!
As Mrs. Labour opens the door to ask her about the mission
The lady was shocked by the vision; as the girl’s feet are frozen
and are not going to pass the winter season!
Mrs. Labour takes off her traditional footwear, the Mukluks
without hesitation and gestures towards the Equator girl’s frozen feet
the feet are relieved, she had great fondness of their Mukluks.
Mrs. Labour’s kind and considerate concern soothes the girl’s winter need
now the Equator girl wears her own Mukluks, no longer penniless
and appreciates greatly their Mukluks.
- Triumphs over WINTER and Its PEOPLE
Just in about a year
I am welcome to stay without choice
the land and all its inhabitants are so warm to me, I have to stay without choice
in fascination I am the longest time in every calendar year.
My presence is undeniably noticed by them
My winter dressing raises many talks
The list of the talks about the winter long severe damage is unending.
In their many talks, I serve as either a good or bad content
In their many talks I seem to be harsh and inconsiderate
the Northern inhabitants says my stay is distinctively severe
compared with the west or the south.
Northerners without choice have to be well warm-kitted for my coming
Layers covering their bodies from the strand of their head to their feet to keep warm
still I heard stories of the winter victims: frost bites, hypothermia and even deaths
apart from the horrible stories of winter, I see Northerners play
on snowy pathways and trails that my presence made happen
I have to stay without choice
not entirely isolated from the many talks
the Northern reserves delight in the good time I bring
not minding its severity on them; the ice roads provide more opportunities and food supplies hence I am welcomed with great choice!
still, I have to stay without choice
the other stories of the Northern winter victims say my presence stirs up lazy spirits
I hear some of the victims say they are more unproductive due to deep slumber
the moment other energetic talkers embark upon the harsh and inconsiderable winter
their pockets become full and heavy
to conclude from their many talks I without choice overstay my welcome
I believe from the many talks that to some Northerners I serve bad intent and unfriendly
while the many stories tell that I serve good purpose and remain harsh to the Northerners.
- One Shameful Weakness
At childhood, her father daily gives her share of the bottle
each sunrise and sunset, as she grows into adulthood
for over four decades either when alone or amidst friends
and in drinking bouts intentionally and gallantly
at an instant these bottles of weakness are opened and consumed
as the twinkle of an eye
“why, these bottles of weakness enslave you? Why! Why!”
At each opening of the bottles she finishes every last drop
I ponder on the degrading comments and attitudes of neighbours
I wonder if she is concerned about the side effects of bottles
She remembers the last shameful menace the bottles of weakness caused
Inevitably and habitually
these bottles of weakness she consumed as a ‘stresslizer’
at a speed as the twinkle of an eye
faced with the lost of valued relationships and opportunities as doubled
number of these consumed bottles of weakness.
About the Author: Damilola Ibiwumi Joseph is a Nigerian woman who values and appreciates her Yoruba cultural identity. She has developed her cultural appreciation since childhood from her parents. She respects the cultural heritage of other people around her. She strongly believes that knowledge, whether it is academic, cultural, spiritual and environmental, contributes to a person’s meaningful life. Her passion is teaching and learning in both academic and non-academic setting.
Instructor’s Remarks: As a new immigrant, Damilola Joseph has already been integrated to the Northern culture. When I first met her in early spring 2017, she was still bundled up for the cold. Now she has overcome the cold weather and the difficulties new immigrants have had to face. She is going to graduate with English major this fall and she is planning to go on with her graduate program – Dr. Ying Kong