Compassionate Deliverance Poem by Ola Joseph Kolawole

COMPASIONATE DELIVERANCE

How happy it is to discover
That your land is coloured by children
How good it is to know
That your city is the home of nature.

How beautiful it is to behold
The daily sight of the sunrise
How loving it is to hear
The early morning songs of the birds

How appealing it is to look
Seeing happy kids playing around
H how amusing it is to watch
Seeing happy kids swimming for fun

How wonderful is it to be around
To catch a glimpse of the sunset
How exciting it is to be awake
To be a part of the moonlight fun


But how saddening it is to see
That you dwell in cardboard houses
And how bad it is to know
That your roofs are made from nylon

How worsened the situation becomes
When the rains come showering
How devastating it sounds
When the guerrillas come shooting
Though your kids are more cheerful in the day
But every night, their heads do ache
Though they look nice in their school uniforms
But their bellies are bloated with worms


Every inhabitant has a uniform scar and feelings
It’s a scar of poverty and the feeling of insecurity
Every day is the same of the previous
It’s a day with no hope of tomorrow


I’ve heard you outcry in pains
Ascending to me as a foul odour
I’ve chosen to come down and see for myself
If your pains are really not much


What a peace you’ve all forfeited
All these while in cardboard houses
What a needless pain you’ve all borne
All these while not praying


But remember not your sufferings
And pay no attention to the perils of the past
But lift up your eyes to see
And behold your redemption as it draws nigh

Yes! Indeed it has come
And this minute shall you perceive it
Yes1 ways in your wilderness
And rivers in your thirsty lands


Know ye not that no matter your pains
Much more in time past I’ve experienced?
Know ye not that you have a high priest
Much more aware of your frailty

In my compassion have I spoken
In my kindness have I acted
Even wobble in unbelief
This freedom, sure, will activate your faith.

For I have delivered you…..compassionately!

May,10 2007