POEM REVIEW- “Ibadan” by J.P Clark

Ibadan

running splash of rust

and gold-flung and scattered

among seven hills like

broken china in the sun

J.P. Clark

The poet, J.P Clarke of Ijaw origin graduated from the University of Ibadan with a Bachelors in English. It is probably because he schooled in Ibadan that he was inspired to write the poem. The poem is an avid description of Ibadan. It is a quintet of running verse. The tone of the poem gives off as being ‘offhandedly dramatic’ especially as the poet begins by citing the name ‘Ibadan’. He seems to criticize the look of the city by his description in the remaining four lines of the poem.

... running splash of rust and gold is used to the describe the rusted zinc roof tops in Ibadan. His description hits home every time I visit Ibadan.

... scattered among seven hills alludes to the scattered and unplanned nature of the houses in the hilly city of Ibadan.

…like broken china in the sun paints an image in your mind of disorderliness and parts of broken china that are different but from the same piece.