The Paddler Poem by Joseph Oladehinde Ibikunle

I am myself,
Who paddles the canoe of my destiny
Upon the tumultuous ocean of life.

Let the tempest tempt
And the storm storm;
Courage shall counterbalance resolutely.

Toward my destination,
The ocean may sincerely flow.
I smile, the ocean carefreely receives it.

Against my destination,
The ocean may counterflow.
I frown, the ocean flippantly sees it.

For I am one of many paddlers
Reaching for different destinations
Upon the ocean of life.

The storm blows East and West,
The storm blows North and South;
Whichever the direction, I know

That I am myself,
Who paddles the canoe of my destiny
Upon the tumultuous ocean of life.