Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I Am Not There, I Did Not Die



I've been very lucky in this life to have hardly been touched by death, the few people I have known that died have been few and very far between.

On Monday morning, I woke up to the incredibly sad news that my friend Motunrayo had died. This hit me hard.

I and Mots were not very close but I've known her since Primary 1 in Corona, where we were classmates till we both left, we met up again in Vivian Fowler and again in Queen's College where we were in the same class till we graduated. She is probably one of the few people besides family that I've known for more than 20 years.

It's always devastating to hear of any loss of life but more so when the person is as young, as loved and as full of life as she was.

My earliest memory of her was our first day in Primary 1, we were all given name tags so the teachers could identify us and Mots happened to be the only person who misplaced hers. We were all probably about 5 or 6 years old, a roomful of scared, crying babies but this girl started going round the class saying "I've lost my name thing but my name is Motunrayo Ogbara, remember o!"

Lol.

I was seriously impressed by her audacity and that is the Motunrayo all her friends remember; fearless, audacious, friendly, lively, amazing.

One of our own has left untimely but I pray the Lord has taken her into His House.

For me and for all her friends, the Queen's College Class of 2001 and her family, the words of Mary Elizabeth Frye resonate most especially in this sad time;

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Rest in peace
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26 comments

  1. May her soul rest in peace. Amen

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  2. Such a beautiful lady. REst in Perfect peace

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  3. You did just good Daks!

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  4. She was full of life but only God understands.May she rest in peace and my God give her family fortitude to bear the loss.

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  5. "I've lost my name thing but my name is Motunrayo Ogbara, remember o!"...

    *sigh*

    May her soul Rest In Peace, Amen.

    To all her friends, you guys should accept my condolence.

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  6. Since I heard the news on Monday, I have been reading all sort about her death...Daks, you captured the essence of living and dying..."leaving momories printed in the heart of loved ones" May she find eternal peace

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  7. Death is never the end, death never wins because life wins. Eternal life in Jesus Christ our lord always wins. May her soul rest in the perfect peace of the Lord Amen.

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  8. "I've lost my name thing but my name is Motunrayo Ogbara, remember o!"... I'm sure all who knew & loved her will always remember & never 4get. May her soul rest in His bosom.

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  9. what a beautiful piece... well done adaku... may motunrayo continue to rest in perfect peace .... AMEN

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  10. It really was a privilege to have known Motunrayo. Am really glad that someone that 'knew' her decided to write instead of d other hateful blogs
    Mot was really a gem. Rest in Peace

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  11. Wonderfully written piece.. May she find comfort in the lords arms.. The poem was fantastic

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  12. That's really sad, may her gently soul rest in perfect peace...very sad!!!

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  13. This is really beautiful.
    Thank you for giving us a wonderful memory of a woman who once lived.

    I wish a lot of Nigerians who see her as woman and someone's daughter and no just some girl decided to end her life.

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  14. Motunrayo,may God have mercy on you and grant you eternal rest.I pray that God will comfort your parents,family members and loved ones.I think you should have opened up to someone that you think
    would have encouraged you.it is well,God knows best.

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  15. May her soul rest in peace. My condolences to you and all her family and friends.

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  16. Hw sad! May her soul rest in Peace.

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  17. beautiful poem...touching...
    @ i have lost my name thing, but my name is Motunrayo Ogbara, remember o!...dats sooo Mots, i can imagine her saying that...may her soul rest in perfect peace with the Lord...special condolences to her family and loved ones

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  18. "I've lost my name thing but my name is Motunrayo Ogbara, remember o!"

    That's sooo Motunrayo!

    I pray the good Lord will grant her eternal rest and her friends and family the strength to bear our loss...
    AMEN!

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  19. Thank you Adaku for this wonderful piece. You speak for all of us who knew her at one point or another. Motunrayo was so full of life and beautiful...."I've lost my name thing but my name is Motunrayo Ogbara, remember o!"...Yep! Sounds exactly like Motunrayo. May her soul RIP. May the good LORD continue to comfort her family and friends. ~ Bukky A, QCY Class of 2001

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  20. sad news, not something to look out for. i liked her from a distance back in QC, and i still do cos she had a cool attitude that showed no worries. May her soul rest in peace.

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  21. She was a beauty. So sad... May her soul rest in peace.

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  22. Great piece, Daks. RIP to your friend.

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  23. That was a touching tribute. When I saw the news all over, I was wondering how many of the ex QC bloggers knew her. May her soul rest in peace.

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