This poem was inspired by Chinua Achebe's novel 'Things Fall Apart' br br br Let me grieve my father's death. br br I should have been a man, br That is what he always wanted; br For woman cannot be the lords of the clan. br br Then I would have been there at his side, br To fight the noble fight. br Noble men are no more, br They have all but melted into the night. br br My father was one of them, br Now he is dead; as is this clan. br You say he killed himself, br At least my father died a man. br br He loved this place, br But his people let him down. br Abandoning their war-like state, br And now they fail to cut him down. br br 'They are all cowards', br He would have said. br That is why he lay here, br Cold and Dead! br br Sitll, I am a woman, br And that is all I could be. br So give my husband back his things, br I shall now marry my father's memory. br br My mind is made up, br Bring me his mask and skirt of raffia; br Let me be the last man to lead Umuofia.