SELF HELP POETIC EXPRESSIONS
For Encouragement, Healing, Healthy Living, Relationships
Dr. Joel Akande
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Joel Akande
Published by Strategic Insight Publishing
ISBN 13: 978-0-9532332-4-3
Table of Contents
ANATOMY OF THE POET 2
ABOUT THE BOOK 4
INTRODUCTION 5
THE PERFECT MACHINE 6
IN QUEUE TO SATISFY 7
THE LIMIT 8
SLEEP WELL: AFFIRMATIVE
RECITATION
10
GOOD BEHAVIOUR 12
SCHOOL 12
LOVE IS BLIND 13
STRATEGIC INSIGHT PUBLISHING (SIP):
OTHER BOOKS IN DR JOEL AKANDE’S QUALITY LIFE SERIES. 15
ANATOMY OF THE POET
I am a poet, bringing human innermost feelings to life:
bridging the gap between mood and certainty.
And with the power to birth into being, deep human emotions.
I am a gynaecologist.
Seeing what men crave in their hidden desire.
Beholding the cherished treasure of many,
A pearl through which many men and women rise or perish.
How are some mighty fallen: A trap for the unwary,
A lever for the clever to rise to glory.
Often so hidden but sometimes abused.
Being entrusted with lives and treasure of beholder of glamour.
In my privilege, I took charge of the most valued asset of women:
A possession that traps the hands of the rich and poor,
An asset serving as a snare to the most vulnerable of souls.
I am a psychiatrist.
Discerning the intimate thoughts of individuals,
Relieving despair and giving comforting words to the impaired.
My expressions are directed to ones in desperation.
I am a pastor.
With my eyes fixed and piercing into human deepest parts,
Delivering from bondage and enlightening the souls of captives,
strengthening the bruised with my words,
And encouraging lives of righteousness.
I am a writer.
Committing my experience into eternity
And recording for prosperity,
What I have seen, felt and heard.
In my quest, I gave myself to much study,
Greatly to the understanding of the law.
I am a husband.
Indulgent in human emotions,
Managing human affairs while directing a home
Knowing the delusion of bliss,
But also the sorrow of association.
I am a father of two.
With lives committed unto my hands,
Being in charge to instruct and keep hearts,
The lives of others that rose from my bosom.
I am a medical doctor.
The high and the low come bare before me,
Leaving all open.
Nothing is hidden from my inquiries.
I am a businessman.
Being productive with my talents
My time being used judiciously,
And creating wealth with my abilities.
I am a man.
Passing through seasons,
The stresses that men and women go through.
A man: confronting but rising above adversities,
Enduring pain and failures.
Persevering in success and in despair,
Seeing the challenges of men and women,
In diseases and healing.
Beholding human joy and hopelessness:
The futility that men pursue.
I am a man.
Having been through the thick and thin,
Have I humbly committed these verses unto your hand
Now please listen to my words,
Pay attention to my verses,
I have good news for you.
For these reasons have I committed my poems unto your hands:
for a purpose to enrich your most precious lives.
And with these acoustics,
I wish you joy and happiness.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Self-Help Poetic Expressions is basically a book on motivation or word of encouragement through the power of poems or verses which in most cases forms the foundation of songs. Our individual and collective situations change from time to time as our fortunes vary from good to bad and vice versa.
Recitation of poems is well recognized in clinical practice as being therapeutic apart from possibly reflecting the readers own personal circumstances. Thus, the uniqueness of poems stems from its ability to align with diverse personal situations of the readers.
Once again and as I have mentioned in many of my earlier books, this work is borne out of the timeless view that word changes things and hence spoken or expressed word has consequences. Based on clinical experience, keen observations about life and the personal triumphs over adversity of the author, Poetic Expressions has been written with considerations for families and individuals. That said, in a number of cases, I have been driven by intense insipiration rather than personal material experiences.
Poetic Expressions is a practical book with daily usage in mind covering healthy living, romantic verses, appreciation of friendships, reflections on life in general, victory over despair and fear. Further, the poems in this book cover overcoming of abuse and frustrations to as wide as poetry for children, encouragement for the old and nature.
With this in mind, I wish you pleasurable reading.
INTRODUCTION
Let me begin by telling you the story of my interaction with one of my cliens, well, patients, to illustrate the importance of this book. I was helping my patient who was in great physical and mental distress. She was so much in agony that she asked me to do anything and or give her anything to relieve her pain. This is because, before now she had been elsewhere without much help. She had tried many therapies without much success.
Well, the story proceeded and she insisted on her demand. I told her that, “I can only give you what I have. What I have include what I know”. That is exactly where this book is heading.
Writers write their books from experience and skilful abilities which may have been inherited: an experience that may flow from inspiration, instructions whatever their form, active lessons learnt in education, professional or personal tragedies and triumphs. My own understanding is not different. If anything, I have been through them all—bereavement and failings amongst others.
I can only give you what I have, in poems and in other forms of words, from experience that I have acquired.
Like my patients who ultimately found relief from my offering, I hope this book will serve as a great comfort to you, the readers.
Now, the book is divided, broadly, into sections to make for easy search and access. Readers may discover that, life in general is a continuum. As such, while individual poems as sources of encouragement may be read individually, the poems as in, life may be read altogether.
My target audience is just you who in times of need, you may requires simple words of encouragement to give you a boost. If my poems have resonated with you and help your personal situation, then, I have achieved my aims.
“When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease”.
V.L. Allineare
THE PERFECT MACHINE
Look at this moving machine that breathes
Have you seen a device that reproduces?
Take a look at this biological tool that speaks
I kno
w of a contraption that wakes and sleeps
Come with me to see a perfect machine that lives
This tool requires food and water
This appliance has powerful network of nerves
This machine has a mind of its own
A machine that has a long tube to process what it consumes
Come along to see a wonderful machine
A machine that makes choices
A tool that control and can be controlled
An instrument that passes own form to the next generation
This machines needs energy to keep going
Come along to see a wholesome machine
This perfect machine must eat and drink right
This wonderful contraption must rest and sleep right
This appliance must think and behave right
This tool must relate and exercise right
Come with me to see a magnificent machine
I am that machine that is perfect
My thoughts are influenced by what I ingest and breathe
My functions and nerves depends on my exercise
My wholesome longevity and wellness reflect usage of my body
I am the perfect machine like no other.
IN QUEUE TO SATISFY
One by one they came in line
They queued up one behind another
With high hope in mind,
And great expectation to satisfy an appetite
The evident product of the earth is set,
The pleasant aroma perfumed the air,
So poignantly displayed for all to see,
An audacious invitation to consume.
So the individuals in the queue diminish one after another,
As they pick the best of the soil,
And they gathered the finest of the sea,
In mix with the great rooster of the air.
Some sat on the sofa, others stood in full awesomeness,
Carried away by the appetite,
Oblivious to the merciful earth,
That so graciously yielded its products.
With stomach now filled with earth elements,
And hunger now vanquished: banished into a distant,
Shall we now not give thanks? A desire now fulfilled,
For great mercy so graciously bestowed upon us.
THE LIMIT
I do not eat all that comes my way,
For in food, energy is given,
Though food sustain to a limit,
Instructions will uphold till the end.
I am not a scavenger,
I choose the most excellent of the earth,
And for my table, I select,
The best edible sea treasure.
I am very selective, the land I tread on,
and what passes into my body.
From the multitude of its yield ,
I take for food the finest of the air.
What I come in contact with matters.
Not all is good though may be legal,
I am conscious how I treat my body,
For in me, the best of creation reside.
Thus, I must with care bring to a limit,
How I interact with all things around me;
And how I manage by body,
for in me reside, the finest that’s ever be.
THE DOCTOR: WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?
Doctor, doctor, doctor,
Who moved my cheese?
I sought to eat my burger,
I threw the apple in the bin,
Only to invite the flu ,
Loss of strength and unhappiness.
Doctor, doctor, doctor,
Who took away my broccoli?
A stranger somewhere took my wholebread,
Doctor, who moved my cheese?
I have cold in this heat,
With loss of will and vigour.
Doctor, doctor, doctor,
Who moved my cheese?
I want my apples and peas,
Bring back my oranges and melon,
To drive away, my cold
And restore my strength and joy.
THE ORDER
All in the heart and blood,
Nicotine met high cholesterol,
Cigarette collided with alcohol and illicit drugs,
While breathing exhaust fumes,
All in the course of stress.
Thus a great and justified conspiracy arose,
So a united order was given,
To shut the mind, heart and brain down.
Thus the life gate was closed.
That my mind no longer perceives,
the reality of the world around it.
My blood now polluted,
and the liver in grip of infection.
So an enormous and right order was issued,
And a unified command was given,
To finally shut my entire body down.
So a lifeless body lay stiff.
My heart ceased to make a beat,
The electrical current from brain no more,
My eyes open but no longer perceives,
Thus a crowd gathered in wonder,
A question in every ones lips: why?
But the answer was clearly obvious: Corporeal pollution,
That my mind and body was by order shut down.
SLEEP WELL: AFFIRMATIVE
RECITATION
A good sleep is a treasure.
A restful slumber a fortune,
A fine nab is riches.
A doze is wealth.
My body, be at rest,
My brain, be at peace,
Rest secure my soul,
My eyes, close in tranquillity.
Worry not, my bones.
Flee from me, anxiety,
Panic, be distant from me.
For I have nothing to bother about.
My mind, calm and be still.
I have not committed any offence,
I did not put my hands in matter beyond me,
Therefore, sleep well my brain.
I hurt no one and stir no trouble.
My soul, rest well, no one will snag me.
Therefore, sleep like a baby, my wholeness,
And secure your treasure.
SLEEP WELL: A TRANQUIL CONTEMPLATION
I lay my body in rest;
Free from all troubles.
Night unto night, day unto day,
Sleep is for rest, alertness if for work,
Recovery from work, a must.
I allow no offence to bother me.
I consider not the folly around me.
I lay myself in sleep, a rest my body needs.
Oblivious of the raging storm in the world.
I take no part in human travesty.
I am unmoved by the human silliness,
I put my self in a fortress,
A bastion the world storm, untouched,
I lay myself in God’s Hands;
To give my life a good rest.
CROSSROADS
Conflict, conflict and conflict.
The desire of my mind conflict with what is right for me.
My intention is not allowed by the laws that guides me,
I am made a subject to the choices that I make,
Yet I am suppose to have knowledge to choose right.
Clashing, clashing and clashing,
If I choose right, I live right and long.
If I choose wrong, I am afflicted, body and mind.
Experts’ opinions, many opinions come my way,
Yet, I have little understanding to choose right.
Decision, decision and my decision,
I am responsible for my decision,
The way I behave and live my life,
The choic
e I make and the road that I take,
Yet, I am at crossroads to choose right.
GOOD BEHAVIOUR
My father and mother says if I behave well,
I can choose my next toy,
So I control my self,
To be the best I can,
And win the approval of my parents.
Today I must do my home work,
Everyday, to tidy my room,
While I help my parents at home,
Coming to the aid of my friends,
To be the best I can ever be.
SCHOOL
Before I was one year old,
Mama spoke in gentle voice,
Teaching me the way of life.
When I was an infant,
Papa spoke to direct my ways.
When I was four years old,
Mama took me to nursery,
When I was five, parents took a giant step,
Setting me in way of school,
All in all to get knowledge.
So I went to elementary school,
Puzzled by so many strangers,
So many faces I never have seen;
Friendly teacher who welcomed me,
Thus, I began the great task,
of learning the way of life.
To understand my surrounding the more,
With ready parents to encourage,
To do my home work on time,
All to prepare me for life ahead.
Thus I grew up so quickly,
Progressing through high school,
Working hard through endurance,
Enquiring and studying hard,
As I went thereafter to higher school.
To acquire knowledge so deep.
Nothing good comes easy.
Gold is often dug from hard rock,
So knowledge for life comes not easy.
LOVE IS BLIND
The eyes of love was blinded,
when I sought intense care.
Now that I have my heart desire,
The music had gone cold,
The melody is now wild.
The choir no longer sing in harmony.
The vision I share with my spouse,
is now an undesirable disarray.
The verbal consequence is deafening,
The kiss, now a poisoned chalice,
The physical attack, a resentful result,
A malady that seems unending:
To stop agonising pain and rejection,
I can no longer bear the loneliness,
My love should open its eyes,
To behold the damage perpetrated.