PARENTHOOD

It’s no child’s play
It starts with a day
And gradually spans through the years
The children are always there
And you must always care

When it gets boring
Just sit and stare
There are always like-eyes meeting your glare
When it gets interesting
Enjoy it while it lasts
You sure need all those strained muscles relaxed

There is the dependence,
Which could be definitely irritating
The love that becomes overbearing
The tension that gets you sobbing
And the cheer that gets your eyes teary

Through the love and the pain
It’s a responsibility that you carry the burden
Be a proud parent
And live the life others respect.

BEHIND MY SMILE

You don’t know about it,
It’s inside
It’s personal
It’s behind my smile…
It’s deep
It’s piercing
It’s behind my smile…
It’s unnoticeable
It’s shocking
It’s behind my smile…
It’s a story
It’s a confession
It’s just behind my smile…
Can I take you there?
Can I tell you the whole truth?
Will you be an arm of god’s mercy and comfort?
It’s just behind my smile…
Will you judge me?
Will you sell my woes to the world?
How much will you earn from it?
Will you regard me afterwards?
We aren’t far from it…
It’s just behind my smile…
A problem shared, they say, is half solved.
What about a confession?
What about a deep stinking secret?
Is it safe with you?
Won’t you expose it as a disguised prayer point during prayer meetings, or;
Teach it as a disguised message during bible study?
Please, my soul is languishing!
I have prayed; I have fasted.
What I need is your understanding and support
Won’t you be glad to save a soul?
It’s just behind my smile…
All it will cost you is your solid sincerity and love
Your deep compassion and understanding,
Your humility and consideration,
Your nonjudgmental support!!!
The weight is still behind my smile…
I won’t let it down until I know that it is
Safe enough to share it with you.

By
Ebisike Amarachi

I’M 22 TODAY

On December 14th 1990
Her joy was full, so pure and mighty
The baby kicked into the air with reckless abandon
Crying and sniffing with rhymes in random
What was the reason for such innocent cry?
I can’t really tell but I can try
The doctor said it was the new environment he punctured through
I do not see this explanation to be entirely true

The baby was simply scared of a cruel world
For then his innocent heart had not met the word
Growing up was a world of fun
Sitting, crawling, then walking and begins to run
Lacking any sense of responsibility
but totally trusting in mum’s ability
Often fund of playful dad
That fellow that always made me oblivious of the word “sad”

Straying progressively away from my creator
And enjoying the ride in sin’s elevator
Just towards the yuletide of 2004
I became born again and in the path of destiny I commended my tour
I had to break-out from my dubious gang of six
Oh! Finally, my Saviour gave me a welcome kiss
All my sins and guilt were gone
And pardon from the cross cancelled all I had done

Suddenly the little baby of yesteryears
Grows to search out the meaning of all his fears
And thus to give an explanation for his existence
This quest was crystallized in the Lord’s presence
Until the Lord dissolved it in His infinite wisdom
Now I know why I’m in this glorious kingdom
To the world and all is lust I say a determined goodbye
Until I get to that golden street that money can’t buy

I’m 22 today still under the Lord’s canopy
Only to gaze at my wasted years as an abandoned jalopy
The future is so bright with its energizing blaze
In fact, you would need eye-glasses to take a gaze
Thanks to all the folks that helped shape my life
Especially to those who with love in their hearts employed their knives
To cut-off the folly prevalent in my young heart
Much gratitude to you I give with a cheerful heart
I LOVE YOU ALL

BY
AGBAROJI CHIMEREMEZE