LIVING HOPE

For years untold
Lies were paraded and sold
Exchanges made now and then
Men in power lying enslaved
Buried deep down in the wickedness’ cage

Truth walked the street
Not dressed in gold
Speaking from door to door
Disdained, ignored with tremendous loathing
Men bound yet rejecting freedom
Refusing God’s sent ones…

The burden bent men’s backs
Their bones creaking
Their glitter of hope in self fading
Their self-induced efforts yielding lime
Worn out in defeat, man remembered God
Cried out again, again and again

The Lord heard
The Lord in love sent them Moses a deliverer…
He declared to Pharoah God’s words:
“Let my people go!”
A refusal of the kingdom brought untold terrors
On him and his people
God’s power humbled the king until he could take it no more
He sent God’s chosen out in a grandstyle

Today, the oppressor laughs
Forgetting the God of yesterday, today and forevermore
“We have wounded and grounded them
Crushed and defeated followers of the Holy One,” they chant!
Yet heaven laughs at them…
For destruction, permanent and eternal, awaits the evil one
He is a mere walking dead
His fate longtime ago sealed for hell

Rejoice, oh ye saints of the Lord
Shout with triumph, you children of the Most High
For weeping may endure for a night
But surely, morning comes – bright and beautiful
For seasons change, says the Lord!

Olufunke Ajegbomogun
©2026

Reserved

Nowadays I ricochet at Jays and K before I take an L
I’ve been tricked into the rat race trying to spin a tale
And if I could only fail correctly then my role would sell
All the while, the indecisive boat half-rows with any current seen
Cloaked Fear, but rebranded as hunt for currency
God is set, go and tell them all to come and eat

Lines in the sand don’t decide where the wind blows
I met a woman with really painful elbows
It didn’t take me long to wish her much worse
And to realise that God is Lord of Luck and Laws

Find me promises to anticipate
Find me his moments and I am sated
Find me in his path, complaining that it isn’t going the way it’s going for those off the path
Find me jumping when God is faithful for the twenty thousandth time
And God is still surprising.

How is it that a future reserved for me?
Recreated my past, causing me to know before I knew?
To not be yet I was
To die while still alive
Yet, check and see that God is still reserved
Letting time play out our freedom versus his recurring announcement
God is asking…

Who…?

Godzniel
©2026

Fear of Freedom

Free will can be God’s will

But Lucy in his craft has created customs and traditions that keep you caged

Maya knows why the caged bird sings

It sings of freedom that comes alive only in dreams

It sings of power and triumph over wickedness

Wickedness dressed in fear’s fashion label

The sophisticated fear of being seen or known

The colour blocking fear for tomorrow

The conventional fear of being disagreeable

Or just the casual fear of leaving your comfort zone

If only the caged bird could stop romanticising her cage long enough to pick the lock

Nobody wants to hear the shrill tune of deep sorrowful lyrics

Action speaks louder than songs

It will fall before it learns how to fly again

The free fall, an exercise of its free will because it knows God’s will

And even if it falls to the ground, the few seconds of living is better than an eternity of letting life pass by.

Live!

Nothing will happen

The worst that could happen is death

And to die is gain

ChyD
© 2026

Proof

Your mercy still stand even when life shake me like generator wey no get fuel and when storm raise voice like market women, Your peace calm am, even JBL speakers no loud reach this truth.

I don waka inside fire, yet Your grace na the forth man for that furnace. Blessings wey full my hand, na only your fingerprint fit produce am.

My past be wan dey try drag me back like conductor wey no get change, but the cross sharpaly calm am down. 

As your nails write my freedom na so your blood sign am like court truth. For heaven courtroom, Jesus stand gidigba which living proof reach that one Abeg 

Him love no dey reduce; na so every trial dey shrink like cloth wey see hot water. Even when darkness wan argue, Your light flash am like police for check point, proof wey no dey whine.

When fear dey whisper like thief for backyard, Your Word shout “who goes you!” back.

I dey wake every day because Your covenant cover me like aluminium zinc for rainy roof. And my life? The testimony loud gan, na megaphone wey go always shout: God’s love go always be the final proof.

UbdaPoet
©2025

The Lover’s Recipe

While everyone around the world was basking in the euphoria of the acclaimed love day (Valentine’s Day), Penspeak Community UNIZIK got busy with their pens and spent the day reliving the nostalgia of God’s love.

The floor was thrown up and Delight blew us away with this piece;

 WHOSE ORDERS?

That a tiny acorn will make a mighty forest 
Wasn’t the loamy soil’s words to utter.
Dear child…I speak in voices as ancient as before.
I gave you gifts not like anyone else’s 
But you chose to be photographed through distorted lenses.
You followed rules written by hands you will never shake
Then ending at crossroads, you asked me “Lord what’s your take?
Those rules were written by hand…
Funny how you are ignorant to the power embedded in yours
You obeyed the “rites” discarding the “rights”
What a perfect mismatch you are!!
You were told to silence your own voice for the sake of the loud…
The loud voice said “conform” but in your heart you felt torn.
Torn between the needs of your soul and the rule you have been sold.
Is it freedom you seek or a cage in gold?
Bound by lines drawn by a mentally distorted ruler’s ruler
They said “follow” and you never asked why
You were wheedled to be fine with “just fine”.
They raised you to be small but your heart beats loud…louder than their expectations.
Dear child…if you would… listen.
The elders might call this rebellion 
But I call it my divine intention 
Your dreams and desires are my design
Your handwritten lifeline, mine to sign
Your steps are earthquakes in their shallow puddles
You are to build bridges where they said walls stood
You are not a footnote in their stories.
You are the headline yet they don’t want to see your headlines.
Prior to forming you, I knew thee.
I know your deepest sleep even your purest glee 
So, whose orders if not mine?

Mc Wisdom came in right after and dropped this;

GOOD FOOD

Just can’t wait until it gets to the plate
Aromas that dance, through a culinary state
Tenderly cooked, with love and with care
Each bite a story, beyond compare

The cutting, slicing, sizzling, crackling, mixing,
 a continuous process that lives you wanting and yawning 

Oh, the joy of good food, that brings us together
A universal love language,
The norming around the dinner table 
The joy and laughter that’s uncontrollable, that transcends this weather, and leaves you warm.

A taste of nostalgia, a hint of home.
Good food that nourishes the body and soul,
Makes you forget your problem for a moment, leaving you whole.

So, here’s to the chefs, the cooks, and the bakers
The farmers, the fishermen, and the food makers
My mom, dad, siblings, friends, family 
Thank you for the feast, for the flavours and the fun
Good food that brings us to the table, as one.

With the floor and curtains intact, Delight waltz in with so much inspiration and gave us;

HOSEA 2🥰

I was once yours, you were once mine.
But in the shadows, you slipped away,  
Chasing after lovers who didn’t care,  
Trading true love for a false comfort,  
An affair with idols, a broken vow in the temple of desire.  
You left me but every step you took, I felt it,  
Every kiss you gave, I tasted it.  
Your heart wandered, but mine stayed rooted,  
Waiting, holding on,  
Gripping the promise of what was.

But love is not blind– it sees the truth,  
And the truth cuts deep.
So, hear me now:  

I will no longer cover your shame,  
I will no longer veil your mistakes, for you’ve turned your back, 
And I must speak of the consequences.  
The gates will close, the blessings will fade,  
Your fields will wither, and your heart will ache,  
As the world you built crumbles beneath your feet.  
But in this silence, in this solitude,  
You’ll hear my voice again and I won’t leave you there,  

For even in the wilderness,  
I am here, I will allure you,  
I will call your name and I will take you back,  
Not as a servant, but as my bride.  
I’ll speak comfort to your broken heart,  
Restore the years you’ve lost to wandering,  
Your valley of despair will become a place of hope,  
Your shame will be washed clean,  
And the shame you once wore,  
Will be replaced with a crown of righteousness.  
I will lead you to a new covenant, A promise of peace,  
Where love reigns.
Where mercy is poured like rain on dry ground,  
Where my faithfulness holds you close. I will be your God,  
And you will be my people,  
And together, we’ll make all things new.  
The name you once wore,  
The name of betrayal,
Will be changed.  
You will be called “My Delight,”  
And I will call you “My Beloved.”  

Forever,  
And nothing will ever tear us apart again.

What a love! What a God! See you next month for another freestyle!

Authors
MC WISDOM
DELIGHT SHEKELS

BELOVED,

Good day and welcome to another recap of freestyle Friday. It’s always a blessing to share these moments with you. This past Friday, the 7th of March, 2025, our phenomenal host, GodzNiel, presented us with multiple thought-provoking topics for expression:
TOPICS:
1. FREED
2. ASK
3. BELOVED
4. ANXIETY VS DILIGENCE


We kicked off with this profound quote from the captain himself Godswill Ezeonyeka:
The only love worth talking about is God’s!

I couldn’t agree more—so simple, yet deeply profound.

Hannah D’Ginus followed up with this short but powerful masterpiece::
A.S.K
I know you must have seen this
Ask is the acronym of Ask, Seek, and Knock
If you have not gotten an answer, just know you haven’t asked.


Then GodzNiel came in with these stirring lines:
Freed warriors
Freed stories of God’s building
God budding
Freed stables of the Love driven
Mercy interfered with a lie here and there
We’re the party that chose Truth and Dare
We die daily and preach Christ, we do dare
.

Hannah D’Ginus wasn’t done yet. She continued with this electrifying piece:
Energy
Just praying the Word
You are supercharged
You’ll use lightning for fuel and thunder as convoy

Just praying the Word
You’ll see Satan in his true form
Trying to stop you
Sending fear as his tool

Just praying the Word
You become aware of Zion’s assembly
You hear things that will be preached on Sunday

Just praying the Word
You activate angelic activity
You’ll know you are not alone
You’ll find speedily the way to the city

Just praying the Word
You’ll forget time exists


Words straight from the Masters table! We just can’t get enough, can we?

The captain Godswill Ezeonyeka swooped in again with this introspective piece::
Men know the rich one
Wealth like make-up, a fading beauty

Men know the strong one
Brawn bursting at the seams, ever leaking

Men know the accomplished one
Purposeful strides painting only the past

But do men know the loved ones
Whose sins are forever forgiven

Do men know the loved ones
Who sits content in the rest of another

Do men know the loved ones
Do men know they were loved once?

This freestyle Friday was concluded in style with this thought-provoking piece from GodzNiel:
Hehehe

What happened to God’s will
Is it no longer enough to be God’s beloved?
Is it no longer sought after
— to be fed with manna
— to quell famines with quail, and
walk across seas on dry land?

Who freed us from the Fear of the Lord?
Why are there scolding scowls haunting me when I ask?
Is the way of the Lord no longer the pilgrimage of His Beloved?
In the face of all this greed that sewed us new pockets, who cares enough about obedience—
To dismount Ang Xayiti, the knight mare that overides our diligence?

But seriously
What happened to God’s will?

We experienced nothing short of an ethereal Friday. As always, it’s great doing this with you🥂. Till next time, stay in God’s will ✨.

AUTHORS
Godswill Ezeonyeka
Hannah D’Ginus
GodzNiel

Baby Girl For Life

Baby Girl for Life
Old age is setting in.
My system does not digest milk anymore.
I take pain relievers every morning
For sleeping late and waking early

Asides animated video
I don’t know what else
People do on snapchat.
I downloaded tictok for that
‘Put your head on my shoulders
But I could not figure it out

Oluwa!
I am becoming my mother.
O ma shey o!
My ‘baby girl for life’ mantra
Has become a caricature.

But I am enjoying old age
I lovvvvvvvvveeee it.
The most beautiful thing about
It is freedom to be.
Learn. Grow. Make mistakes.
And if you are lucky,
All at your own pace

You would think I am 50. Lol
I am looking forward to 30.
I will throw the loudest party.
Haha. You know I am lying.
I will probably coil up in my bed,
Having lazy conversations with God.
Oh. I am the lazy one.

That is, if I get to 30 of course.
My high school group posted
Many pictures of the dead among us.
Left me wondering who the next is.
Life is fleeting.

But that’s fine.
I am knocking out checklists.
When it’s my time
I will go like a baby girl.
Because what?????
I am a baby girl for life.

ChyD
©2021

CHILDREN’S CRY


Why are we left?
To always suffer pain
Are there no more hopes left?
What in this world is gain?
What more is there to claim?
What joy, refined is given?
Evil just keeps growing
Suffering persist with a blow
No scene of happiness
No thought of happiness
Where is the future glory
Where are the leaders of tomorrow
Are they not the fatherless?
Ignored, homeless, speechless,
Non-important, useless, senseless
Are they not a prey to AIDS?
Instruments of evil rather than good
Child abuse, drug abuse
Love of sex, zeal to steal
I don’t care, where’s the money?
That’s the world’s request
Where’s the exemplary leader?
Where are the hope, peace and unity?
Where’s the freedom of good will?
Where’s the chance to be good?
Where’s the parental love?
What struck LOVE itself?
Why are we neglected?
Why are we suffering?
Please! Can someone help?

Charles Young
©2021