Ode to Poetry

Oh poetry, art of language divine,
With words that flow, in meter and rhyme,
You paint a picture with each verse and line,
A tapestry woven, with thought so fine.

You give voice to what lies in the heart,
Emotions raw, made into art,
With rhythm and sound, you play your part,
To heal and comfort, from the start.

You take us on journeys to far off lands,
To meet characters, in your written hands,
You let us feel what it’s like to stand,
In someone else’s shoes, and understand.

Poetry, you challenge and inspire,
With truth and beauty, you never tire,
A spark that ignites, with a single fire,
Bringing wonder to all, higher and higher.

So here’s to you,
dear poetry, we sing,
With each word,
our hearts take flight
and wing,
With you, we soar, our spirits take wing,
You are the soul of language, the art it brings.

Tolulope Amao
© 2023

The Promise

The promises that milked your fathers
still flows in the breast of Him that carries you
The promises that energized their bones
And muscled their flesh
Same promises echo in the ears of your heart
Go! for I am with you always.

Go into the land
Beyond the reach of you hands
Yet within the gaze of your eyes
The land I show you has streams of honey
Creamy Rivers of milk
Land fertile yet undefiled
Precious stones scathered around
As pebbles of rocks

Go into the land
The journey may seem audious
But your shoes shall hold your feet
And your feed I’ll give
Your strength shall not be ill
Neither shall your delight wane
You’ll be there before you faint

Go into the land
I have shown you
I have shown you the path
Now make the journey

– Eremipaghmo Inima Pearl Oguarah
(c) 2021

For love only

I thought I knew strength, what I thought
I felt I needn’t do what I ought
I was wrong, so I blamed my strife
Follow me and you’ll have eternal life
These words I didn’t heed
I was that rebellious seed
Though aware of this grace, I was no bolt in this race
Adam where art thou? I hid my face
I had gone against truth, tasted the forbidden fruit

Surely I still had time, I said
But any hope in this very lie was dead
“The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief…
But I kept sinning, ignoring my belief
“The wages of sin is death…
Mine drew closer with every breath

This cliché have I heard, the thousandth time
Repent or eternal death; the clergy rhyme
So at times I wondered, beyond and under
Is Hell a yonder? Or should I even bother?
If this suffering, they speak is somewhat real
maybe the safe side is where I’d rather be
So yes, I did consider

What if I got saved, or take a break from life o’er there
I would still be lost, neither here nor there
“Thou shall love the Lord your God…
I knew mine wasn’t love; Just the fear of hell
Maybe it was the same if no one could tell
So I walked in hands open, heart closed.

“By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved..
I walked in and didn’t come out the same
I didn’t come out at all.
I thought he was blinded by his love
But it made him see what even I couldn’t
Coz even when I despised him, he loved me
He still does, and always will.
Oh! and this time I love him too

Erudite
© 2019

REALITY STRUCK

I was scared, didn’t want to make another promise I wouldn’t keep.
Guilt struck me each time I tried and failed, what was I to reap?

Why such a difficult path?
If He willingly gave His life
Why couldn’t I automatically shine like light?

Well I played smart this time, I had a plan B.
I threw in some eggs, and let some be.

I couldn’t trust the process of “just believing,”
I had seen men die believing this saying.

I carved out an escape route,
I set out plans to activate when I got stuck
And He is no where to pull out my foot.

Poor me,
I was oblivious of the real me.

Saved
Blessed
Blameless and
Spotless

Little did I know what it meant to be saved by grace.
I had no idea what the term “finished works” entailed.

How can believing be termed ‘just’
when it had the power to save the lost.

I found Love in its pure state,
Righteous is now my new state.

Love bought me, and I can never be bought back!

This is about Him, the man Christ Jesus.

The One who loved me when I didn’t know me,
The One who gave His life for me when I hadn’t found me.

The One who swore never to be angry with me,
The One who took guilt and fear away from me.

The One whose Words I can bank on,
The One whose Words I can stand on.

The One who freely gave,
The One who graciously saved.

Imani Dokubo
(c) 2018

LOVE LIKE NO OTHER

It’s 4am in the morning

And one thing keeps me smiling

Feels like four Amens won’t do

When I hear of how much you love Jesus too

 

 

See there’s no other love quite like this one

He’s not just anyone, but The One

The Trinity: Father, Spirit, Son

This love renders one undone

 

 

Perfect present cleansing is this love

For me and you and 7 trillion others more

No truer song has ever been sung

Behold what manner of love the father has given unto us

 

 

This kind of love fills any void and colors in all grays

It’s how I draw each and every breath of my praise

This kind of love is untamed and unrestrained

Yes this love has a name, name above all names

 

 

Love so amazing (Amazon) it literally speaks life

Love so transforming; it’s 100% successful every time

Love so fulfilling it overflows: rivers of life

Love so immortal He never dies

 

 

If this love were a star, it would be a galaxy

If it were a drop, it would be the deep blue sea

If it were a minute, it would be eternity

It is something and simultaneously everything

 

 

Isn’t it odd that this Love is one so even

Isn’t it unforgivable the much we’ve been forgiven

Isn’t it inhuman his love for us humans

Isn’t it deep the height of this love from God for man

 

 

A free gift that paid the world’s most expensive debt

Blood-wash that leaves one white as snow

Removing the stains of sin, hurt, pain and regret

Priceless heirloom which on us was bestowed

 

 

Take a mirror and marvel: Love at work

Take a bible and Learn: Love’s architecture

Never was there any thing surer

Than this love of which we are born

 

 

The melody of my heartbeat is this love

The missing piece to every puzzle is this love

The song of my soul’s salvation is this love

The solution to every problem is this love

 

 

Sing aloud love’s song

Dance a jig for what love’s done

Love came for one and all

Love lives in all who answer the call

 

 

Like the season for this love I fall

Like the month I will march on and proclaim this love to all

This timeless gift is present and everlasting

It grows with every share, a love worth broadcasting

 

 

I relish in the thought of one day beholding love’s face

To see before me what was always within me: vase

Amazing love tis a sound so delish

I can only imagine what that would be

 

 

Oh the questions I’ll have when we meet face to face

Dear love, to be wrapped in your warm embrace

Yet somehow I feel all the questions may fade

But one thing I won’t hold back are the tears that’ll cascade

 

 

This love knew my pain and held on still

This love I threw away but he kept fellowship

This love I never deserved still he gave me him

This love I proclaim to see someday

 

 

Love that never led me astray

Love that always showed me the way

Love that made sure I was ok

Love is the reason I’m alive today

 

 

I dare say I love this love though so frail

For one thing, I’m sure would never fail

Is the love with which this love loves me every day

Hear me say I love this love once again

 

 

When once I tried my life to take

This love dove into my despair

When once I was shattered by heartache

My heart, this love, did mend and repair

 

 

When in doubt I stare at hopes gone

Love holds my hand and Faith restores

When words I cannot find to ease my heart

Love forms these lines that some call art

 

 

What’s in a name? What’s this love called?

This four-letter verb that has us enthralled?

The name, The Word, for a love so unique

That without it, my soul fades and my heart becomes weak

 

 

Perhaps when tomorrow will be in view

I would know what words could describe you

Perhaps my wonder as I stand in your view

Would let me see endless depths you love me through

 

 

This wonderful promise so amazing and true

It’s open to all, it’s available to you

Ready your heart for this gift we speak of

Christ’s unconditional and unchanging love

 

 

We testify of something so good for you

No need for diets you can’t overfeed on this truth

We write so you read and confess too

The love of God is true and for you

 

A poem by Lisa (www.1WritersHeart.com) and Godswill (www.christapoet.com)