THE REWARD

I denied self and gave my goal
My time, my fun, and all l have.
I scrimpt it nothing, cost and toil,
And made it my aim and my love.

Nothing of value it returned.
How could it be so much ingrate?
I asked the wise and my close friend.
They told me it was act of fate.

I got so kind and followed faith,
And implored my Lord not to waste
My sweat, my toil, and moral wealth,
With all the cheerful dreams l chased.

While indulged in this sea of care,
A thought came flaunting to my mind.
It showed my goal as something dear,
Loved for itself not for its end.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

FUN AND SUCCESS

You can't have both, success and fun.
Where one exists; the second leaves.
To succeed, a great toil is done
And with that toil, fun never lives.

Success needs rules and hardest boss
Whereas fun can't live with that rule.
With success wasting time is loss
While wasting time fun will cajole.

The ruler who is strict and hard
Can make his country bloom with force;
But lenient rulers draw backward
And people will live grim remorse.

I don't side with one, but with facts.
I love the firm man when he works;
He bears the burden, and he acts
To bring his people peace and stocks.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE GENTLE AND THE WICKED

The kind and gentle have no place
As wicked people have great might.
Good manners teach us to love peace
While wicked people opt to fight.

Good heart and love ask men to be
So gentle with all and so kind,
But nowadays wild beasts get free
And loving people go behind.

There is a proverb they apply,
"If you aren't wolves, wolves will eat you."
You can't be kind and cause to cry,
So we shed tears for what they do.

I am so grieved by what l see.
The gentle are getting extinct
While wicked men live with great glee,
Enjoying their hearts of hard flint.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE LORD REVISITS US.

God wished to come and visit us
To see His children in their house.
He came to stay just for some time
To show His care for their own home.

By chance, He came to where l pray,
A church l went to on Sunday.
He came in clothes so cheaply sewn
Like those He had previously worn.

He came to church where we were dressed
So richly and had finest scent.
When He came in, the crowd were shocked.
How could that Man come as He looked ?

He looked at them when they paid alms
How they paid them with proudest palms.
He was so sad for what He saw
And calmly as He came He drew.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE REMINDER

He has been such a dear old friend.
We haven't met for years on end.
I met him after such long time.
Our joy regained its old prime.

I was so glad to see him well.
The same his eyes could clearly tell.
Then like a child when he is glad
His skill he showed though it was bad.

He showed me what he called fine art,
That expressed what would make him last.
It would give him what he aspired
Though far below what  arts required.

I showed him great support and zest,
But could not help myself request:
Why does man waste his short life span
To leave his mark to mortal man ?
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE SAVIOUR

How weak a child when his dear mum
Leaves him in garden and goes home.
He gets too frightened and too glum.
He can't stay there, and he can't roam.

He just becomes a chick of bird
With wings unfeathered and dumb tongue.
It falls from its nest to the ground,
With none to help, to beg too young.

No one can please him but that face;
She only can give words that soothe.
Only her soft hand and its grace
His ruffled hair can gently smooth.

He cries and shouts and does not want
Except her face of kindest smile.
If she comes all gets quite all right,
And he feels that life goes so well.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH

THAT'S WHY WE LIVE .

As long as you live, smile to life.
It is enough that you can breathe.
The breath will give you what's enough
To think about what makes you blithe.

Why don't you think about good health
That God gives you to life compose;
Why don't you chant and make your mouth
Just acknowledge what He bestows.

Think of the beauty in the streets,
The girls that dance in their light steps,
The little children whose laugh greets
The ears to give life new concepts.

Think of the mothers and their kids,
The fathers who find joy in work.
Think of the second life God builds
To grant you joy of highest rank.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________