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Homage to Geneva  

 

 

Ugonna Wachuku 

 

(c) 1998: Ugonna Wachuku 

 

Contents: 

 

Dedication

 

Prologue

 

Escalade

 

Homage to Geneva

 

Fireworks

 

Spirit of Geneva

 

English Garden

 

River Walk

 

Alpine Garden

 

Take My Love

 

The Author 

 

Dedication: 

 

To every Genevese

and to every other

human being who,

in oneness, symbolize

that Genevan spirit

of tolerance, peace,

humanitarianism and

brotherhood of all

humankind.

 

 

Prologue  

 

"Man is born free;

and everywhere he

is in chains."

~ Jean Jacques Rousseau

 

"The desire to be as

civil as possible is

a deep motive for the

contemplative life."

~M. Scott Peck

 

In Geneva today, the human creative spirit is

not in chains. One is invited to let one's creative

essence run calmly wild for the peaceful good of all

humanity.

 

In contemplation therefore, Geneva will never cease

to awe and inspire  my deepest poetic emotion. For

me, Geneva is not just a small, global city and state.

Geneva is an emerald beauty of huge, natural, creative

inspiration so unexplainable.

 

In paying this homage to Geneva, it is my kind wish to

invoke the most subtle feeling in every human heart -

so that we can begin to see Geneva anew based on her

ancestral heritage in the reformation and humanitarianism.

 

And also in the moving spirit of her hard-won independence

clothed in that strengthening solidarity of the human spirit.

In Geneva's great name, let us continue to live with that

cherished spirit of peace warmed in the sky-blue garments

of love and solidified in the flame of human adversity

and soulful yearning for survival through this journey

called life.

 

At the very dawn of the new millennium, let us embrace

one another with that sweet fragrance of humane care

and healing oneness.

 

In Geneva's meadow gardens and green country-sides

of inspiration and peace, :- from Hermance to Dardagny;

from Veyrier to Versoix, to Plan-les-Ouates - where 

inspiring Patek Philippe have been humanely creating

worthy watches for humankind since 1839, let us, indeed,

affirm our love for one another despite our skin colour,

religious creed, social status, level of education or ethnic

origin: 

By doing so, we will surely build an enchanting world of

peace and humaneness where everyone will sit with joy

and fulfilment under his or her own Alpine tree

or palm tree.

 

Subsequently, let me specially call on all women and

men of inspiration and goodwill to join me in paying

this heart-felt homage to Geneva - with additional

inspiration and encouragement from abiding friends

such as Franck Muller: Master of Complications! 

 

Let my creative tribute to this humanely great Canton of

the Swiss, Confederation Helvetia, which I have come to

christen: Poetic Geneva, outlive the monuments of time

and stone. Let us cherish this humble homage to Geneva

now and forever!

 

Ugonna Wachuku

Wednesday 20 May, 1998

Geneva, Switzerland

 

i:

 

Escalade 

 

There is a spirit so strong

and beautiful on this land

called Geneva where the

rivers Rhone and Arve

calmly flow.

 

On a summer boatride down

the Rhone town and country,

one's joy is aroused by the

enchanting nature of Geneva's

bloom and glow.

 

Geneva is a beautiful land

beckoning to love and to

embrace with a maidens's

charm.

 

The people of Geneva are

beautiful too. It is the

people's strong spirit

that sustains the land in

beauty an peaceful

independence.

 

This strong spirit came

on firmly during that

dark night of December

11, 1602, when it seemed

the stars of hope and

light had fled from

Geneva's sky.

 

When it seemed the people

of Geneva will smile no

more in the land's beauty.

With Charles-Emmanuel -

Duke of Savoy on the brink

of conquering Geneva by

suprise, the land's peaceful

soul was shaken.

 

From the city walls at

Plainpalais to the

clinging bells of Saint

Peter's Cathedral, the

Genevese raised their

loving lanterns in

oneness.

 

Jacques Mrcier's first

shot of warning can

still be heard today,

raising that strong

spirit for the land's

fragrant, uplifting

freedom.

 

Even Francois Bousezel

who gave his life to

keep Geneva's peaceful

independence and beauty

will still be remembered

till the end of time.

 

In a spirit of oneness

and love, Geneva fought

to bring glorious light

and freedom during that

night of terror.

 

Through the years, that

sweet aroma of Mere

Royaume's pot of saving

soup can still be breathed

in soothing defence of

Geneva's independence.

 

Lady Piaget's keys

unlocked the darling

door to freedom and

joyful victory.

 

Geneva won her freedom,

her peaceful independence

when Isaac Mercier dropped

the Portcullis at the

blown-up gate of Porte

Neuve.

 

The stars smiled.

Heaven heathered.

 

The dark grey sky

bloomed into dewy

dawn on that glorious

sunday morning when

Theodore de Beze and

Simone Goulart led

Geneva in worship

and praise to God

Almighty who made

all things peaceful

and beautifully

healing.

 

Remember, there is

a strong spirit so

splendid and uplifting

on this land of heaven's

earth called Geneva where

the rivers Rhone and Arve

freshly flow with gladness.

 

There is a spirit so

strong and beautifully

inspiring on this

Genevese land called

Saint Gervais where

eighteen men lie

while the freedom

and peaceful

independence

they won live

for you and

for me till

the end of

time!

 

....... From my book: Homage to Geneva ....... 

(c) Ugonna Wachuku: May 1998 

Geneva: Switzerland 

_ 

 

Homage to Geneva 

~ Critiques/Comments ~ 

 

Serene Moment

belleloved@excite.com

  A very nice tribute to Geneva.  I've learned a lot on an historical perspective.  Great work. ^_^  

http://www.postpoems.com/members/serene  

 

Helen Schmidt

heljac123@aol.com

Ugonna, 

 

What a wonderful homage to a beautiful city. My husband and I have visited Geneva and found it to be a lovely, ethereal place whose citizens are friendly and welcoming.  I enjoyed the historical citations in your "Homage to Geneva."  A beautiful piece! 

 

Best regards, 

 

Helen

http://PostPoems.com/members/helen

2002-02-22 12:03:50 

Farah D

fiffi_d@yahoo.com

I was in Geneva last month and I can totally relate to the sentiments that you have expressed so beautifully here..Ugonna. Its a most wonderful and humane city...and you have brought that aspect of the city so well in your poem. Its as if Geneva is speaking to you and through the words of Geneva you speak to us. One of my most memorable memories of Geneva is from the air as the plane swoops in to land ..with the calmness of the lake beckoning you to come down quickly. I will surely be back again in Geneva soon and I will surely be back before that to read your wonderful words. Thank you Ugonna.

http://PostPoems.com/members/destiny

 

2002-04-14 13:53:42