Winnowing (A Collection of Poems) is the seventh "Collection of Poems", published by Orok Otu Duke, following: Clementines, Sentinels, My Song, Sentinels, Dances on the Plains, Ellipses and Treasures. You are invited to join in his "Winnowing". Here is an introduction to Duke Town, his place of origin in Calabar...
"Duke Town
The horizons do not age,
As I see the rivers running back home,
Salivating over the sensuous rhythms of my town.
In this milieu, the mangrove trees still stand as sentries,
Like the celebrated ceremonial guards of London.
Standing on the only blocked marina in my continent,
I still feel the presence of the Portuguese,
The Germans and the British Visitors and conquistadores in the millennia past.
We had a great start at first,
But heartaches and pains soon followed our steps,
Words that never existed in our vocabulary,
Soon joined the enemy's constabulary.
Now fear for crime
Runs very high.
Holding firmly to the reins of ruins
Becomes a debacle which only
The maniacally bemused minds
Would really appreciate.
With Oron looking like a cleft
And Henshaw Town to my left,
Obutong stays close to the right like an intrusive elder brother,
While Creek Town and Adiabo look on like nosey sisters,
Ogling NNS Anansa, Eastern Naval Command and Amphibious Brigade.
This is a town that has defied history.
Welcome to Duke Town."
Duke, Orok Otu: - "Orok Otu Duke, a native of Duke Town, Calabar, southernNigeria, was born in Enugu after Nigerian independence before the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970 to Otu Edet Duke and Amayo Edet Duke. He had his primary school education in The Practising School, Uyo and Government Primary School located at No.1, Mayne Avenue (Inyang Nta Henshaw Avenue), Calabar. He then proceeded to the famous Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, where he obtained his GCE O level. After obtaining his GCE A level from St. Patrick's College, Calabar, he gained admission to the University of Calabar where he obtained his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, culminating in a Ph.D Winnowing: A Collection of Poems is his seventh published work, following: - Ellipses (Niger Delta, Leaving the Plains, Saratoga and Other Poems), London, 2016 - Dances on the Plains (Madiba, Chibok Girls and Other Poems), London, 2014, - My Song (And Other Poems), London, 2013 - Sentinels (Farewell Bakassi: Selected Poems and Articles), London, 2013 - Clementines (A Collection of Poems), London, 2013 Other works by the same author soon to be published include: - Treasures: A Collection of Poems London,2025 - Oluchi's Journey (Three Generations of the Okerekes in Calabar: Before, During and After the Nigerian Civil War)London,2025 - Calabar Modern Stories London 2025 - Welcome to Uyo!' (The Nigerian Civil War Stories Through the Eyes a Calabar Child) London, 2025 - The Brotherhood - Broken Lives - Agaba as a Protest Dance - Tinkörikö (Short Stories and Articles)[MJ1] - Mme Uto Iko Efik Ye Mme Ikwo Nde (Efik Proverbs and Songs)."
