Once Upon An Eagle And Other Poems Against Poverty

Iyorwuese Hagher's anthology, "Once Upon an Eagle and Other Poems Against Poverty," is a passionate outcry against injustice, terror, greed, corruption, and oppression. Drawing from the Tiv traditions of Nigeria, Hagher's poems resonate as a powerful voice for the downtrodden and the weak.

With over three decades of apprenticeship in poetry, Hagher skilfully weaves together dance, song, story, and performance into an invisible chord that captures the immediacy of contemporary African tragedies. These verses go beyond mere words, to create a conduit through which our interrelated society must collectively address - chiefly, the wars against terror, injustice, and poverty.

Hagher's poetry, rooted in the Tiv song tradition, pays homage to his grandfather's timeless themes of love, hatred, envy, and the pursuit of a fulfilling life. As a politician, artist, and diplomat, Hagher introduces a unique fusion of the poetic, theatrical, and political, urging readers to perceive these verses as an expression of unity among people of all races and creeds.

This collection invites readers to engage in a dialogue with the poet, traversing the emotional landscapes and reflecting on the riddles of human existence. Written during Hagher's diplomatic tenure in Mexico, these verses encapsulate his profound encounter with cultural diversity and emphasize the need for integrating human differences in our shared global journey.

"Once Upon an Eagle and Other Poems Against Poverty" is more than a collection; it is Hagher's political manifesto, embodying hope and a resounding call for the affirmation of our shared humanity. Through these poems, a reader embarks on a universal journey, resonating with the longing for a better life for all.

Below is the comprehensive list of titles for the poems featured in the anthology:

1. A Day in Mexico City
2. A Diplomat's Prayer
3. Africa in Zacatecas
4. Anna and Pablo
5. A new song for a Nation
6. Anger
7. And God answered back
8. A prayer for tolerance
9. A vote for peace
10. Ballad of the widow
11. Beauty Queen
12. Blameless Children
13. Blanket appreciation
14. Blind bombs
15. Blood Diamonds
16. Born to die
17. Born to fly
18. Cancun
19. Cycles of ignorance
20. Death of a terrorist
21. Diplomacy
22. Dreaming dreams
23. Drunk poet
24. Dying in Africa's Sudan
25. Earthquake
26. Egyptian Queen
27. Emerging world
28. Engagement
29. Forgive us our debts
30. Gbeji and Zaki Biam
31. Graduation
32. Guanajuato's Festival
33. Happiest on Earth
34. Heat wave
35. Heaven's Gates
36. Home
37. It is time, except that
38. Leave Empire and go home
39. Life in the basement
40. Like dark clouds
41. Like flies we die
42. Magdalene
43. Maids
44. Manatee
45. Merchant of death
46. Money bag
47. My life
48. My farm
49. My life enemy
50. My pen a hoe
51. My sister
52. Ode to Gbaaiko lyol
53. Ode to Tarka
54. Out of the closet
55. Once Upon an Eagle
56. People like us
57. Pity the poor peasant farmer
58. Political insults
59. Prayer for the New Year
60. Predators of the Savannah
61. Procession
62. Quest into me
63. Refugee woman
64. See these girls
65. Slaves of power
66. Stolen rights
67. Street child
68. The Assembly
69. The Children of those who stole our wealth
70. The Cockerels' fight
71. The Corrupt
72. The Day of the dead
73. The Flight
74. The Keys
75. The Locomotive driver
76. The Migrant
77. The Miserable
78. The New
79. The New Scramble
80. The Peasant Farmer's Prayer
81. The Reforms
82. The Rhinoceros
83. The sad Scientist
84. The T.V. Cameras
85. The Way of choice
86. The Zocalo
87. These Poems
88. This thing politics
89. Those that steal hope
90. Thoughts of the butcher's wife
91. To the women of Africa
92. Too early too late
93. Too little too late
94. Tree of knowledge
95. Volcano in Aso Rock
96. What tribe is money?
97. Where is the peace?
98. Winning to celebrate
99. Wit denies and mind receives
100. Yet I forgive
101. Yesterday's Regrets