A poem for Mabel Segun

INK OF GRATITUDE

By

Oreoluwa Okediran

I celebrate you, Mama, Mrs. Mabel Segun,
A shining star, the Matriarch of African literature’s throne.

Your legacy lives on, a beacon of hope and light,
Guiding generations through the dark of night.

My first steps on this literary journey were taken with glee,
When my dad brought me to your haven, a child mentee to be.

Your literary paradise in Salami estate, New Bodija’s pride,
Ibadan’s haven, where words came alive.
You taught me the word “didactic,” a lesson I hold dear,

To weave tales that teach yet entertain and bring near.
“Show, don’t tell,” you’d say with a smile so bright,

A mantra that guides me through the dark of night.
Your vision for African Literature, a dream you held so high,

For freedom of expression, a cry that echoed across the sky.
You paved the way for writers, a trailblazer true and bold,

A champion of the pen, a story yet untold.
“My Father’s Daughter” (1965), a classic that stands the test,

A generational children’s bible, loved and cherished, forever best.
A testament to your craft, a labor of love and light,
A shining star that guides us through the darkest night.

Now you dwell with the worship of writers in heaven’s gate,
A gathering of the greats, where stories are the currency of fate.

Rest in peace, dear Mama, your legacy lives on,

A celebration of your life, a tribute to your spirit, forever strong.

*Oreoluwa, a writer, is Dr Wale Okediran’s daughter.