spilledwoords
“Poetry burns in our hearts with the passionate heat of a lover’s embrace.”
DESIDERATA
Go placidly amid the noise and haste
remember there is peace in silence embraced.
As far as it depends on you stall,
be peaceable, be in good terms with all.
Speak truth to all, listen to others interrogatories,
even the dull and ignorant have their stories.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, don’t listen
to their outbursts, they’re vexations to the spirit.
Be yourself. If you compare yourself to others, better
or otherwise you may be vain or bitter.
Enjoy your triumphs when they come, sunk up defeats,
work at your career, nurture that hobby – that feat;
however humble, it’s a gold dime
in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, sadly
the world is full of trickery.
But let not Caution blind you and whisk
you to what rewards there is in taking Risk.
Many strive higher ideals, few aspire zeros
life is full of heroism, yet we can’t all be heroes.
Do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for
in the face of all aridity it’s as evergreen as the fir.
Take kindly the counselling of your parents,
gracefully surrender folly’s transference.
Nurture strength of spirit – it’s a fortress
that will shields you in sudden misfortune.
Don’t distress yourself with dark lowliness.
many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be not adverse
to yourself, you are a child of the universe.
No less than the trees and the star(s)
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
Planet Earth is spinning with or without your clue.
Wounds heal, clay coagulate, broken hearts mend
Birth renews creation, Death is Birth’s dividend
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive him to be – laud
him and whatever your labors or goal,
in this noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, broken dreams and whirled
drudgery, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful, be chatty
be happy
Copyright © 2019. Ugo Nkwoala. (Extra from Max Ehrmann, 1927 )
Recent Posts: spilledwoords
A Fortnight Today
A fortnight today,they will rationalize their actions –‘Keeping the Peace’and forget what they did. There was no CLAMP DOWN! A fortnight today,their victims would still reminisce;their ordeal they’ll pass on fromfather to child, from siblings to neighbors. There was a CLAMP DOWN! A fortnight today,how quickly Propaganda will rewrite historysay it once, say it again […]
Conspiracy
Nothing works against the successof a scheme so much as a wish to makeit wholly secured n’ sure to succeed.Such an attempt requires many men,much time and very favorable conditions;these heighten the risk of being discovered –how daring, how O dangerous!Yes, Conspiracy has a human heart –cold n’ calculating, fearsome n’ fearful – most unscrupulous. […]
Helter-skelter
Helter-skelter in the cityThe mall strangely in disarray –Smashed windows, ransacked shelves. Citizen: “Liberty! Liberty is in town. It’s a protest!”Government: “No, no, Citizen! Be on your guard!Law and Order now cower at your feet, too timid to act.” Soldiers, to the street! Forward march!Load fresh bullets in your gunsOff the safety catch, pull the […]
By the Tollgate
By the tollgate at Lekki, by the roadsidefar from the comforts of our loved oneseased from the day-to-day tasks we abidethere we sat in anguish n’ anger – agitated. Placards we brought with us –a solace to our heavy hearts,a plead to the world to hearbut soon we found we’ve upset our censors. With resentment, […]
Weapon
The will to power destroys the power to will.The weapon made, we cannot help but use it;it drags us with its own momentum still. The power to kill compounds the need to kill.Grown out of hand, the heart cannot refuse it;the will to power undoes the power to will. Though as we strike we cry […]
