Despair Poem by Ibrahim Enitan Eniola Olubiyi

Oh! How my soul long for thee
Thou light said to be at the end of every tunnel...
I have waited and encouraged me
Weary no more saith me to my soull
Yet, the tunnel of despair ended not
Oh! How stronger grew my frustration
As I struggle with the strong hold of frustration


What iniquities abound so much in me
That prosperity elude the labour of my arm
What manner of man am I
That I sow like an elephant
Yet reap like foolish ant
I long for light
If thou would but have mercy
And a glint of light you will shed in this labyrinth of frustration
How joy my miserable soul will be.

If only I had known,
I would have pleaded God a wretch soul like me be left behind in heaven,
That the soul of my wretched feet kiss not mother earth
If only I had been informed,
Battle ready, frustration resistant would I have come into this dark sorrowful world
Woe is me!
For I work like the holy one did
And nought my reward is in comparism with him

Where in this universe lies justice?
Where resides the prevailing truth?
Show thou me justice
That my cause I may humbly plead with it.
Reveal to me the path to the truth
That my frustrated soul may wrestle with it for answers
My soul seeth no justice
My bartered heart disdain even the truth...
What doth thou on earth oh! My soul?


Oh! How I wonder why God remaineth silent while the just suffereth
Why do the righteous labour perpetually in vain?
Why is justice not executed instantly?
Why do the wicked reigns over the righteous?
Why languish my soul in this cauldron of bitterness?
Seeth thou a way of escape for my soul
Show thou me!
I am tired...tired of going on
Who will help my wretch and abandoned soul?

Thou art God,
Thou creator of Heaven and earth,
I knoweth not why thou permit this atrocities on the surface of the earth
I knoweth not why I suffer as I do
There is a part of me that wish to talk to you as I feel
Yet, there is another that restraineth me
But one thing I know, two will I do
Encourage my wretched and wearied soul to hold on to faith in you
If to my rescue thou God may come one day;
To hang on to the hopeless hope
Per adventure a miracle my soul may get


Oh! How long Lord,
Shall this horrible tempest storm rage?
When shall rest my soul find, oh! Master of the universe?
When shall my neck be free from the fierce grip of this horrible beast?
When shall light my soul find at the end of this dark tunnel?
When shall I have the joy of harvest?
Am I meant to have rest in this side of eternity?
When shall I see the fulfilment of thy words oh! God
When?