GLOOM OF DOOM

On a day when no danger looms

Safe the final anathema of doom.

A day when death o’er us cast

Its rumpus with darkness vast.

When all that is left is sorrow

Of gnashing of teeth and furore.

When we turned with fret ne’er thought

Paying debt of things ne’er bought.

Alas! This premonition so tense.

Hailing with wail whence

All hope lost in shadow of twilight;

Flickering under the darkness of the night.

Morose for lost hue of youthful days

When lust summons us on covetous way.

Revelling in the gloom of excess beer,

Haplessly now its burden we’ll docilely bear.

On a day we shall bid us whither

We shall rebel to march thither.

For lust made us a promise of glory,

Why then shall we be recompense with gory?

LIFE AFTER TOMB

Light after darkness, gain after loss

Strength after weakness, crown after cross

Sweet after bitter, hope after fears

Home after wandering, praise after tears.

Success after failure, progress and movement

Towards an everlasting fulfilment.

From whence disgust amasses now cometh delight.

And after protracted darkness to see the light.

Ripping after sowing, sun after rain

Sight after mystery, pleasure after pain

Joy after sorrow, calm after blast

Rest after weariness; sweet rest at last.

Near after distant, gleam after gloom

Love after loneliness, life after tomb

After long agony, rapture of bliss

Right was the pathway leading to this.

FOR LIGHT AND CROWN

Only in thee a radiance bright

Shines like a beacon in the night

Guiding my pilgrim barque aright

Over this tempest of life and plight.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure

Happiness and sorrow without measure

Pilgrim I am through this barren land of treasure

With work goes the time for leisure.

As the sun of bliss is beaming;

Light and love upon me is teaming.

From the cross, the radiance streaming

Adds new lustre to my redeeming.

Here in an ampler, purer air

Above the stir of toil and care

Cometh the light which none compare

Behold the joy that dry-off tears.

Watching His glistening raiment glow

Whiter than Hermon's whitest snow

We'll fight as saints who nobly fought of old

And win, with them, the victor's crown of gold.

Pleasures and pleasures

        (The corruptible and the incorruptible)

Across the burning deserts of sinful strife

My soul in its conflict and sorrows will fly.

Pleasures of earth, so seemingly sweet

Fail at last our longings to meet.

On dazzling peak or darkling plain,

'Mid human joy or gloom or pain

We rally round our blessed standard here:

And the Saviour's cross we early learn to bear.

In place ills afflict and demons vex

And woes the sons of men perplex

Dismay not in dolour that betide

Behold, beneath His wings of love we abide.

Though earth despise and friends forsake,

Though families act as loving as snakes,

When neither sun nor stars appear,

Still I can trust and feel no fear.

Dwelleth in us is peace divine -

Peace that the world, tho'all combine

Never can take away from us!

Who cares about their snare and disgust?

Marching on, pressing t'wards the prize

To glorious crown beyond the glowing skies.

To fill our hearts with heavenly joy

Pleasures that can ne'er cloy.

VIRTUE OF HATRED

(For Adewale Adekunle who was once a lover)

So jealous a lover

Cut out of loving for eternity.

Caged in lover’s trench for perpetuity.

He raged at loving.

Enraged at what love made of him

He will die not for love nor miss a breath.

He will live in the bosom of death,

For their lies reprieve from loving.

They said; “Loving is no crime.”

Caged for caring. A misdemeanour, no!

Sentenced to this abyss for no crime.

To hate is virtue, a vice: loving.

Given another chance, he will yield

Not to maidens’ incessant calling to love.

He will flee, a possessed flight, to the field.

Toiling earnestly to passionately hate loving.

A CROSS-LIKE LOVE

      (For the one fondly called Mimee)

This trouble for thee I must traverse

To whisper to thy ears songs of melody.

Not for this nightmarish voice, thy nightingale of verse

I will be; to sing harmoniously this symphony.

Like a candle, a kandu, my steps you lit.

Enchanted with the light that seeth through –

Through this darkened heart. With wit

Unsurpassed, natheless modesty accrued.

Cloudy cloud like criss-cross curtails our course.

Our love, our cross; heralding this curse.

Some sweet sorrow stings sublimely.

Happy hours hunt our hearts haplessly.

Memories of happier times with you

Relieves me of the convulsive twitch

Of having to live a moment without you.

Seemingly doubtless how beholding you bewitch.

This trouble for thee I must traverse

To serenade thy eminence, though terse.

For thy love I will wage wars worded with words;

Warring words to ward rivals off this world.