'Love Apart' by Christopher Okigbo

This is a poem of heartbreak. Christopher Okigbo conveys this feeling through the particular reference to nature, where all artists seek inspiration. He uses the air, the moon and two pines.

In many parts of Africa, such as Ghana and Nigeria particularly, the passage of time is measured by the moon. “Three moons” is “three months” for the Ewe people of Ghana, Togo and Benin.

Using Nature and the moon, the poet tells us that while he is heartbroken, the pines would be evergreen which means there is a ray of hope. Life goes on.

Love Apart by Christopher Okigbo

The moon has ascended between us,Between two pinesThat bow to each other;

Love with the moon has ascended,Has fed on our solitary stems;

And we are now shadowsThat cling to each other,But kiss the air only.

Christopher Okigbo was born in 1930 and died in 1967 fighting for the independence of Biafra.

RELATED: The Passage by Christopher Okigbo