Poems by Abimbola T. Alabi

When your mind is set
On a splendid thing you want to do,
There are some who will shrug,
Like you don't have a clue.

When you proceed,
Some will say it can't be done
And that there is really no need
For you to take it on.

And halfway through,
Some may deem your progress small,
Or others will ask if what you're doing
Is even worthwhile at all.

But when you succeed,
Then with flattering tongue,
The same folks will say they knew
That you'd do it all along.

Now, folks may mean well
When they say it can't be done,
But then who is to lose
If they are actually wrong?

But if you take note of why
Some doubt your point of view
And stick close to those
Who see the strength in you,

If you put your faith in God,
No matter how tough it may seem,
If you work hard, if you believe,
You will achieve your dream.

For what others think,
Whether or not you're strong or smart,
Sometimes, doesn't really count
As what you believe in your heart.

Get annoyed with someone
And explode in fury
But later after calming down
You'd look back
On the huffing and the puffing
And the ranting
And the chanting,
Only to wonder,
What was I thinking?

Get smitten with someone
And lose all sense of judgement
But when their true colour emerges
You'd look back
On the pleasing and the teasing
And the needing
And the pleading,
Only to wonder,
What was I thinking?

Get let down on an expectation
And end up frustrated
But later when things work out
You'd look back
On the fretting and the sweating
And the scurrying
And the worrying,
Only to wonder,
What was I thinking?

But if in the heat of the moment
We can pray for the grace
To maintain a clear head
And a quiet heart
To control the thrilling or feeling
Or the raving
Or the craving.
Later, we won't have to wonder,
"What was I thinking?"

It's not so easy....

Anyone can spot others' flaws.
It's easy, like a blink of the eyes.
Doing better is noting ours because
That's where the challenge lies.

Anyone can share what they got right,
For that will flow like a song.
To do better is to try being forthright
About the things we got wrong.

Everyone enjoys praise and acclaim;
It surely is a piece of cake.
But doing better is not shifting blame
When it's really ours to take.

Anyone can be cheerful and bright;
That's after a win of course.
To do better is to be nice and polite,
Even after suffering a loss.

While the usual is easy to find,
Noble things are sometimes hard to do.
Like being honest, humble and kind,
But are due in me and you.

Life can seem an endless maze,
The twists and turns, lulls and delays,
But things always fall into place...
In good time.

Friends will sometimes go away.
Some may disappoint or others betray,
But new ones will come to stay...
In good time.

The hurt of getting something wrong,
And the lesson it often brings along
Are there, you see, to make you strong...
In good time.

Kindness freely given away,
Unnoticed now, will somehow find its way
Back to you and come to stay...
In good time.

Efforts seem not to pay to plan?
Forge on friend, doing the best you can.
Fortune will find the deserving man...
In good time.

Life can be tough, there's no doubt,
But hope is the thing we can't do without.
Right things with joy will come about...
In good time.

We can all live and just be
Who we are meant to be in life.
Allowing love to set us free,
Rather than giving into strife.

There's always space up above
For every willing bird to fly.
The heavens never have enough
Shining stars to fill the sky.

Without tearing others down,
We sure can build ourselves up.
Without dragging them to the ground,
We all can climb to the top.

Why make this life a contest,
To always compare and compete?
When we are truly at our best,
Lifting up those that we meet.

Let's strive for the best we can be,
Helping each other along the line.
The sky is vast for you and me,
And together, we all can shine.

Prayer is the breath
That revives my soul.
Prayer is the balm
That makes my spirit whole.
Prayer is my path
Into the realm up above.
Prayer is the wave
That fills my heart with love.
Prayer is the key
That opens the bolted door.
It is the battle plan
When I find myself at war.
Prayer is the gift
That I send a distant friend.
It's prayer, the lifeline
I will use right to the end.

Fueling your faith
In what you've got within...
In your God-given gift,
It's a wonderful thing.

It will fuel your drive
To pursue a worthwhile goal,
To reach for the sky
With all of your soul.

It ignites the will
In you to spread your wings,
To give things a try,
See what the future brings.

It will feed your grit,
To renew efforts denied.
To get up after a fall,
To take a hitch in stride.

It will aid your poise
Once you start to rise up high
And ride upon the clouds
When you begin to fly.

It's a beautiful thing,
With rewards so great,
When you quell your doubts
And you fuel your faith.

There's a still small voice,
Always there to aid my choice.
Wisdom's whispers soft but strong,
Teaching me right from wrong...
'Tis the Living Word.

There is a sweet treat,
Honey from the comb so free to eat.
The pure and pristine whole,
That daily delights my soul...
'Tis the Living Word.

There is a guiding light,
A shining lamp on dreary nights.
The path is clear in its glow,
When I'm not sure which way to go...
'Tis the Living Word.

There is a flaming sword
Keeping my mortal mind secured.
My stand to fight and take apart,
Evil wiles against my heart...
'Tis the Living Word.

There is an oasis,
Wellspring of hope and peace.
A fountain that never runs dry,
Healing and lifting my spirit high...
'Tis the Living Word.

Helpless in so many ways,
In Thee I find sufficient grace;
So help me live, dear Lord, I pray,
In thoughts and deeds and all I say...
Thy Living Word.

Strive at work while you can.
God knows it's why you are a man,
But don't wait till the funds abound
Before you get to slow it down.

Give your calling all you've got.
Rewards to gain, they are a lot;
But don't lose loved ones you have around.
Create the time to slow it down.

Toil for things that you crave,
But how much gets taken to the grave?
As needs are met, the wants compound.
Take the time to slow it down.

Best things in life are from above.
The busy struggles are never enough,
And in this truth, peace can be found.
Find the time to slow it down.

Where my heart truly lies
Is in the beauty of a simple life,
In a little peace and quiet,
Slower pace and lesser strife.

Where I'd find time to walk
Leisurely down a winding road,
Strolling in the woods, savoring
Each unfolding scenic episode.

Where I'd find time to sit
And nestle by the almond tree,
Feeling its quiet windy whispers
As it gently cuddles me.

Where I'd find time to stand
Quietly behind the windowpane,
Cradling a mug, watching the world
Showered with a gentle rain.

Where I'd find time to catch
The sparkling poise of a firefly
And lounge in the serene canopy
Of a star-speckled velvet sky.

Just a little peace and quiet,
In between life's hectic pace...
And I find my soul better aligned,
Filled with sweet solace.