Poems by A.T. Alabi

It's sometimes easy to think
We have nothing to give;
Yet we often have more to offer
Than we tend to believe.

We can give a smile
To those we meet on our way;
It could warm their hearts
And brighten their day.

We can give a pat,
A gentle squeeze, a simple touch.
If offered in the nick of time
Sometimes can mean so much.

We can give a second chance,
For that willingness to forgive
Others for their seeming lapses,
Is a blessed thing to give.

We can lend a listening hear
To someone who seems distraught;
For the comfort it often affords,
Money sometimes cannot.

We can offer kind words;
"Thank you," "Love you," "Well done,"
Are sometimes all we have to say
To be a blessing to someone.

It's true, money is important.
So many needs it can relieve;
Still we can look beyond the purse
And find priceless things to give.

If only
We'd have helping hands that lead,
Open arms accepting those in need,
Not fingers pointing out misdeeds.

If only
We'd have tender lips full of smiles,
Gently speaking the truth instead of lies,
Not a caustic tongue that beguiles.

If only
We'd have eyes keen for good results,
And not leering eyes that insult,
Or ones always searching for faults.

If only
We'd have a gentle soul willing to forgive,
A tender heart that offers reprieve,
Not one that is flinty and stiff.

How often
We'd have goodwill with our fellow being,
Get by with even those who seem mean,
And enjoy peace without and within.

If only....

You're not so important
That you can't be replaced.
If you leave today,
Someone will fill your space;
Cool it down.

You're not that mighty
That you cannot fall.
Sometimes what will make you trip
Is something really small;
Cool it down.

You're not that wise
To justly give into pride.
You can learn useful lessons,
Sometimes from a little child;
Cool it down.

You're not that excellent
By earning other's applause.
Same folks that shout your praise
Can still point out your flaws;
Cool it down.

Don't get so confident
To presume you're the only one.
Should you die today,
Life will simply go on;
Cool it down.

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.

I am a work of art
In the Almighty's hands.
The intent of His heart,
He totally understands.

He shapes and He molds,
For to Him, I belong.
The perfect plan He holds,
And He is never wrong.

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.