Still Standing

[Prelude] While some may still be counting in days, for me and many others here, it’s been three years. Thank you Lord!

A journey begun with a journey
Call it an experience, call it a story
Make it sound serious or funny
But surely
not as smooth a ride as ignorance may suggest
Men have risen and some have fallen.
Men have been made and some broken
Some bent, some straightened
Things have happened;
The good, the bad, the secret and unspoken.
But thankfully, Lord,
thankfully, I'm still standing.

Here, on grace, Lord
I’m standing, humbly,
giving you praise
Reminiscing the blue and white
that clad my naive beginning
The mixed feelings;
uncertainty how the days would pan
and how the moments will go.
All we could then do was trust.
And yes, Lord, I did.
And When time, time slowly unveiled
loneliness, scarcity of love,
scorching heat of academic demands
dressed with freezing-cold classes
And freedom;
freedom to kill my own dreams.
But you Baba, You kept me.
And I’m still standing

There were some good times, though;
Good grades, good pals,
good events and achievements.
But how would I ever forget.
How would I forget that there were times
when grades fell and reseat exam threatened faiths.
How could I forget that there were times
when hospital and hospital beds were necessity for some.
How could I forget those silent, lonely moments of depression
and the bumpiness of those emotional roller coasters.
And Lord, how,
how could we ever thank you enough
that through all these we have reason to each say
“I’m still standing”

[Note] I wrote this to as a recitation (with background instrumental: "Grace" by Michael W. Smith) at ASF (African Students’ Fellowship) UNMC third annual thanksgiving held on 29^th May, 2009.

Favourite Songs

Carried to The Table
Artist: Leeland
Album: Sound of Melodies
Video:

Why?
This song humbles me with deep realization of God's love and favour to an unworthy me.


Let It Out (Shout)
Artist: Kirk Franklin
Album: Imagine Me
Video:

Why?
Being real (I mean, really real) to people (even those very close) about sensitive past experiences or personal struggles are most times as hard as the struggles themselves. While some people believe it is safer to 'lock them up' somewhere inside and pretend they don't exist, I realize doing that neither makes you better than who you really are nor helps you fight them. Letting it out is hard but necessary, for us and others.

Meaningless
Artist: Anthony Evans
Album: Letting Go
Video:

Why?
Life is filled with so much 'music' and 'noise' that it becomes very easy to be tuned to the rhythm of worldly pursuit. Living for God is more than just having Him in the picture; it is making him the centre and realizing everything else is meaningless in itself. Yes! degree, material possession, life...everything is "meaningless without you", Lord!

Desert Song
Artist: Hillsong
Album: This Is Our God
Video:

Why?
I must admit, what first attracted me to this song was its groovy instrumental...really nice, always makes me want to dance. But, listening to it more meaningfully i was reminded of my 'downtimes' when things couldn't have been any worse; depression and many unanswered questions. In such seasons it takes a lot more than just being a good Christian to sincerely praise God. Listening to this song, I pray that I may never be too overwhelmed to remember "all of my life, in every season, you are my God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship".

My Everest

O ‘great’ Everest
Where art thou now
And where is thy glory
And height
which sought to thee exalt
above my God
Hast thou not become a plain
upon which I now dance
and engrave psalms
to Him, the fiber of my strength
who hath delivered thee into my hands

Where is thy voice
Quick to cry
“Alas! He has fallen again!”
Why art thou silent
Do thy words now scoff thee
Doth my victory now shame thee
Where is your crest
Where is your pride
founded on my many falls
Alas! Everest
“How art the mighty fallen”

The 93

Same shackles, children and elders
Black skins bound, white walls surround
For survival sake they find new brothers
But the term is too short,
end seemingly too certain
to call the iron bars "home"

Scarce love leaves them searching
as freedom’s gate open
Many boundaries are broken, breaking
Some slowly, predictably, stretching
The ambiance hatches true
maybe new characters;
Comics and Lovers
The ‘Big’ boys,
Churchmen and others
arrive.
Loneliness births colour.

Same uniform is worn by all;
stress on joy
graced with a small blue tower
Every man bearing his own surname
Running, waiting
Uncertain, of the future’s verdict.

Behind The Velvet Curtain

The world is one big theater
I'm on stage
the smiles and laughter
words
gesticulation
pacing end to end
stooping and standing
jumping and cheering
Are all part of the show.

Its yet another act
the moment I'm not alone
And what happens there
apparently matters most
Its another encore
or another boo
Its my name I hear
but I'm convinced its not for me.

They've hardly ever seen me
Its him they know;
the guy on stage
Its him they see
like or hate
Its him who talks much
and 'gingers'
Hes the one they find
good or bad.

The curtains are too thick
so they can't see through
and never may
But I'm there
Maybe doing something better
who knows
And may deserve a louder cheer
but who will ever know
Who will ever dare to look
behind the velvet curtain
for there only can be found
the true me;
and the true you.

Words

I believe in words
I believe in the power of words
I believe they bear power
to create and destroy
to kill and bring to life
to hurt and heal

So I'm sensitive to words
I'm sensitive to their dips and tones
that they hold no meaning of their own;
helpless captives of expression
messengers of thought
and mirrors of mind
whose image though veiled by skill
never stands alone

So now I pledge to words
To seek those that hold truth
To quote those that hold value
keep those that inspire
and speak those that edify
Despite how hard
I'm not afraid to pledge
to try
'Cos I believe in the power of words

When It Finally Counts

"It wasnt easy!"

That would be the theme of my song

on that day when it finally counts.

The elite, profound and freshmen

shall be my crowd.

Some cheering.

Some others staring.

I will walk up the podium,

fulfilled and proud.

The world will hear of it.

Men shall speak of it.

A great day it shall be called

when honour and I shall finally meet.

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror on the wall
Who's the fairest of them all.
Slim, fat, short or tall.
Light, dark, big or small.

Mirror Mirror, look again.
'cos to me they look the same.
Outside is beautiful, inside is lain
an armed damsel; your dreams could be slain.

Mirror Mirror show me how
to know them, please show me now.
I seek a tender maid not a cow.
But only thou knowest, only thou.

Mirror Mirror on the wall
so who's the fairest of them all.
Shy, vivid, quiet or loud.
Reveal this mystery, clear this cloud

This Is Reality

What a way to say 'welcome'!
just one day and i already feel it shouldn't stay.
Yes. It was about real issues.
maybe a little too real.
Well,
the payback feels pretty real too.
i guess that's reality for you


Welcome to a world where swords are made from words.
poetry is a weapon
headed towards the writer.
so how could i have found it
a panacea of relief.
I'm puzzled!
maybe I'm taking it too hard
or maybe that's just reality for you.


Dear Lord,
please help me write better poems and
please, please
please help others to learn
how to read and interpret them
so that i will once again feel like sharing.
cos this wasn't a nice welcome.
but apparently,
that's just reality for you.