Style and Rhythm: Ways of the Ideals

Every morning,

I wake up to cry.

Why do I cry?

My life has been so wonderful.

Life is funny,

But I just can’t understand it.

Today I live,

Tomorrow I die,

That’s the meaning of life.

But in dying tomorrow,

What will I tell God on His judgement throne?

I have to learn to embrace things,

To love and cherish the things I have,

And not cry and curse for the things I lack.

I want to live every minute of life.

I want to tell God on His judgment throne

That I tried to love and be loved.

I laid down my burdens and worries,

I laid down the ways of the flesh,

To love and cherish

My Creator,

All His creation,

Most of all,

I learnt the greatest love of all,

To love myself.

Adaudo Anyiam-Osigwe from her book of poems Words from Beyond When Crying for Myself: Musings of Childhood