PHONE

The sky pours down her pregnant water,

Like the feeling behind my eyes,

The fine weather took off my wires.

The sky is high; I'm feeling low,

Battery down, can't charge my phone;

And recently, it has been charging slow,

And what it has, it goes so quick!

Like an avalanche run down a cliff,

Makes me a little grim,

My patience runs a little thin...

                      (Art by Jash Kiratv)

© el-iyanu

TIRED

I'm tired and fed up of a lot of things,

Like jobs we took those years and worked for free;

I'm tired of being called for errands,

Being asked for rent, I'm not your tenant!

Sometimes, I feel like I'm on a short fuse,

I really detest the feeling of being used,

Tired at night, I go to bed,

But still wake in the morning feeling spent!

I'm really tired of a lot of things,

This past year has been like lit!

Like a fire beneath my feet,

But life like growth, is bittersweet!

Some days haven't been pleasant,

But I'm not complaining, I'm just tired;

I can't give up now, I just have to try harder, 

And rest smarter.

                   (Painting by Angel Ganev)

© el-iyanu

OUT OF ASHES

Out of ashes come beauty,

I went to hell and found these things—

It's not over until the lady sings,

I stand aloft, like see me!

Was burnt by life and scattered like ashes,

But like the phoenix, I rose from the ashes;

The tears I shed, they made me whole,

With joy, I recovered all that was stole;

Like the rising sun, I shine on cynics,

Without a word, I shun the critics,

Left it all in the past like the sixties,

Gained freedom from all that killed me;

Beauty lies in the eyes of the seer,

But God's designs can no man deny;

He washes the dirt off the sinner,

In the flames of death, God spoke to life,

Out of ashes, he formed new life.

Out of ashes, he formed my inner man,

Out of ashes, he formed a thing of beauty,

Out of ashes be-came beauty,

Out of ashes, he formed my inner man,

From my ashes, he formed new life...

© el-iyanu

WORRIED ABOUT MYSELF

I'm worried about myself,

It's like I've not been myself.

I feel the growth from within,

But it's like I'm more petty and mean;

As if I'm closer to God, but distant from men,

And prone to some things I didn't do then.

Closer to some, distant from some,

Still like to think I'm the same as before:

Even though I know I different than before.

I'm worried about myself,

It's like I've not been myself—

Angry at the old, open to new,

It's a big world for me and you.

But I'm worried about myself,

It's like I've not been myself.

.                     (Image by Anja Studer)

© el-iyanu

THE KING WAS A BRIDE

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide.

He had great dreams for the country,

Planned to incorporate all and sundry.

But he stole from his friend and lost a brother,

Forgivable, but guilty forever.

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide.

He lost a friend but gained a bride,

He kept secrets that cut like a knife.

The might of people is the king's pride,

He made the most of his short life.

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide.

His crimes indeed, hard to forgive,

But truly brought peace and reprieve,

For the sake of good, he did deceive,

Grudging respect he did receive.

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide.

You can't pick bones with a dying man,

He'll see the future and roll the last dice,

Make his choice, the consequence be damned,

For what goes around, he won't be around.

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide.

Unforgivable, but you have to forgive,

He asked forgiveness, but also agreed,

That his actions again, he will repeat,

What other way was there to think?

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide.

He truly had a lot to hide,

And was selfish for the good of all,

Was ruthless, fulfilled his wants,

But died at peace and left peace for all,

He saw the big picture once and for all.

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide,

But God was on his side,

For the sake of those on his side.

It was a bumpy ride,

The king was a bride,

He had a lot to hide.

© el-iyanu

(This verse is based on the king's persona in the Korean Classic: Legend of Xiao Chuo — a movie series I absolutely love!)

WHAT I HAVE IS NOT MY OWN

I'm like a stone that doesn't move,

Because what I have is not my own.

It's not enough to be a child of God,

We were called to live like God.

Not as hypocrites who hide their darkness,

But as people of God called in gladness.

What I have is not my own,

To God alone do I owe.

No matter where you reside,

This day, for God decide.

So, I'm as good as new,

But like a rock of ages,

For my source of life

Is the Rock of Ages!

So, I'm like a stone that doesn't move,

For what I have is not my own.

© el-iyanu

RETHINKING

You know how in life you have a rethink?

Then you go on to rethink the things you rethink?

You soak in the moment and take a pause,

And consider the results of your thoughts.

In a way, I've become meaner than I was,

And in a way, I've also become soft.

Life can be stressful and tough,

But we grow like diamonds in the rough.

I wonder if I haven't gone too far,

And some may think I'm lost from afar;

I've embraced different things so far,

And from a lot of things, I've gone afar.

Wisdom is the great principle,

And love is the greater,

To live my life without any trouble,

And happiness ever after.

So, I rethink the things I rethought,

To be sure of what I do, because

Life goes so fast, sometimes, it recoils—

And to balance love with wisdom,

And to balance love with wisdom,

And to balance love with wisdom...

© el-iyanu

LET GOOD COME IN

There's no excuse for poor manners,

So, wear your pride and fly your banners,

Suppress the bad, let the good come out,

For good will come in when good goes out,

For when good goes out, good comes in!

Send out the good even when you feel bad,

And like the flood, you'll find a rainbow,

So bless others and don't curse,

For those who curse will find no rainbows.

Karma, good or bad returns like the wind,

And how much stronger, you have no idea!

© el-iyanu

INDESTRUCTIBLE

Went to the ends of the earth,

Came back hurt,

But by no means destroyed.

Pain is a distant reminder,

That God is a faithful friend:

From beginning to end,

God is a faithful friend.

Even when sorrows never end,

God is a faithful friend;

An atom of God's faithfulness,

I'm indestructible, friend.

I went through hell and back,

But through it all, God had my back—

Even when the Enemy made me a target,

I was hurt, but by no means destroyed.

An atom of God's favour,

In the light of Christ, my Saviour,

Not by might or by power,

But the grace of God per hour.

God, who raised Christ from death,

Keeps me from the Enemy's snare:

For though I stared down the barrel of death,

God raised me from the dirt,

I'm indestructible, friend.

© el-iyanu

I NO DEY VEX (I'm Not Angry)

I no dey vex,

I'm not angry.

The thing pain me well,

But I'm not angry.

When my acts you don't send,

When you act like you don't care,

The thing pain me well,

But I'm not angry.

I no dey vex,

I'm not angry.

The thing pain me well,

But I'm not angry.

© el-iyanu

LAS LAS (NA GOD SURE PASS)

I remember some great men we could die for,

Some others, we'll never forget.

But what we heard,

Even they, had their dark side.

Some holy men you get close to,

Then realise they're men too.

I remember needing a word,

But the man of God had a flight to board.

I also remember,

Another I bothered so much,

But, once, he had a place to be,

I thought to myself, but God is ever there.

Las las, na God sure pass,

And I know how quickly I get tired of people.

At the end of the day, man may disappoint,

But God is ever sure!

© el-iyanu

ANGELS LIKE ME

They said angels like me have never seen hell,

I said to myself, it is well.

I walked through the valley of the shadow of death,

I came out alive and well.

Another told me I wasn't well,

Like what did I know about being unwell?

I said to myself, it is well.

I walked through the valley of the shadow of death,

I came out alive and well.

The joy of the Lord is my strength,

Renews my youth and gives me health,

The Lord comforts me and gives me strength,

I said to myself, it is well.

© el-iyanu