LET'S JOIN HANDS.

People of a hateful grudge
are beheld through one we call a drudge
who has gained no outcome of avail.
That makes him so full of loudest wail.

They hate the people who can have
success in life and be so calm and suave.
They know how they can get respect from all
as they have set and reached a precious goal.

Most of us are not from either class.
Let's join hands; we may pass
gates of grudge and go straight to success.
By joined hands, we may reach God's great bliss.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE VALE
Between the mountain lofty top and that low vale,
I wander beside them to have a look at both.
The mountain lacks the fruits the vale can always have
while both attract my eyes to see the greater worth.

Both have been there since Adam's time but he has gone
and lots like him have traced his way while both exist.
I look with eager eyes at that most glorious peak,
but fear of that hard climb can stop my feet.

It's hard to climb but when we reach the soaring point,
I find the vale so nice but not for dreaming hearts.
The daunted hearts prefer the vale and its sweet fruits
as craggy peaks demand stout heartedness and might.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________

A JOYFUL MEETING
All were so happy showing winsome youth,
singing and dancing on a top wavelength.
The place around was full of brilliant glee
that aroused in my heart a sense of spree.

I heard inside my heart an urgent call
that springs of life would inside me install.
I found all life around call with loud voice,
"Get up, you, sluggish man, your joy announce."

I found myself in a dancing ring and life,
all life, was playing music on a fife,
Looking at me to jump and fill the place  
with what my soul was full, great, immense bliss.

I felt the strength of joy moving my arms,
granting me all the pluck, and beat my drums.
I danced and danced not caring for my age
and filled the sphere with glee and spry messege.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE  REALITY  OF  MAN
Too weak is man, my Lord; he makes me at times cry.
He looks so well today and rebuffs my reply.
I get upset and think how haughty he can be.
Tomorrow, he is ill, and too weak him l see.

I get so sorry as l said what he opposed.
I'd love to meet again and see him well composed.
How much l'd love to hear his voice haughty again.
Then l know that he will to normal state return.

My Lord, You make poor man too frail and too fragile.
He tries to show himself so strong and so agile
to hide what he knows well that he is poor and weak
and all his shouts and shrieks are just to hide his wreck.

So poor is man when he can't prove his self respect
to those who live around and he should them protect.
He feels that his poor life is trifle in their eyes
and nothing can be done, but himself to despise.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE  POET

If we do like it or we don't,
A man is stature not his thought.
They respect that man for his coin
And treat a poet as a clown.

A poet walks thinking himself
A man whose knowledge fills a shelf
With books, none but him is so fond,
But others don't lift from the ground.

Woe to the kind man whom he sites
To hear the poems he recites.
He spends most boring times with yawns;
His reader dreams of laurel crowns.

His wealth for him is not what counts;
His wife and kids live on dump mounts.
He saunters like a proud peacock
While people see him like a joke.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

DON'T  QUAIL!
Go forth, don't fear the dark; it's always there.
If you wait till the morn, no crown you wear.
The crown you see is gold, and all do want.
Don't wait, take it just now. No one will grant.

Though dark, good people's hearts live in the light.
It's not the case with those who love the night.
They want the dark to stay till they can own
The precious aim you love and wear the crown.

The crown is yours; that's what your father's left
for you to take; it's his most precious gift.
Don't let the thieves take it; your father's eyes
are watching his great gifts from his high skies.

Your father will be vexed if you don't get
what he assigned to you in his clear writ.
When morning comes each keeps what he has gained,
and you can't clear your soul of what you've stained.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

ARE YOU A POET ?
Poet, you encourage war .
I wonder how you can do !
Do you know that your pen pours
gasoline on burning coal .

How can you send your sons there
to throw themselves in that fire ?
Why don't you go there yourself ?
Is that hell hot to endure ?

Poet, how can you admire
fire that consumes the flesh ?
Fire is made to feed sons
not to throw them out of reach.

Embers that your sons can't hold
burn their hands while yours are cool .
You behold the woes they feel
to uplift your selfish mood.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE SUBLIME FIGHTER

How dare you, weak bird, such a cat resist
When it attacks your chicks and your small nest ?
You know that your defence will have no hope,
Yet you defend your chicks till dead you drop.

The birds around just look at you and laugh
As your fight with this cat is mad not safe,
And wonder how you can fight such a foe ;
You should be out of mind such act to do.

The bird falls dead and her chicks are devoured ;
The cat leaves with the nest void and destroyed.
The watching birds approach to cast a look
At that dead bird whose wounds cause severe shock.

They find her lying near the trunk of tree.
With broken beak but face so full of glee
As if the face is saying," l'd died first
And did not see my chicks in blood immersed. "

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

FAITH AND FAME

Be careful man of tricky fame;
Its danger can destroy your aim.
Its peril may be more than gold,
That can block your path to the Lord.

Fame can be blindfold to the eyes;
It shows high posts but hides the skies.
It swindles man to go astray
And forget his Lord and right way.

What are you fame but sin disguised.
You join hand with most fearful pride.
You lead the pious to leave God,
And worship his own pride instead.

So guileful you are and so soft.
You dethrone faith to reach your loft,
And drive a man to change his way
To satiate pride with grand array.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

WHAT MORE DO WE NEED?
Let me assure myself and have no care
as Christ wants all mankind to be aware
He gives us life and won't allow grim death
to end it with the end of life on earth.

He made mankind and then He took his form.
He loved him much and shared him his own home.
Then He assured him that He could revive
those who had died and bring them back alive.

No one save Him among the humankind
could restore sight to men who were born blind
and raise Himself from death on the third day
to make saint Thomas believe and obey.

What more do l need to feel or behold?
Can't all that prove He is the mighty Lord?
What l have mentioned was seen by the twelve
and written for mankind it to preserve.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

DUTY AND FEAR

A craven act derives great shame
And makes you feel you are too small.
You commit it and proudly claim
That strength is master of us all.

What makes a person use his might,
Opposing all those cheated crowd,
Or shouting for the death of Christ
When all their leaders wished Him dead?

Saint Peter escaped shy to speak
Though he was faithful and quite strong.
The poor could shout and so the weak
As they were shouting with the throng.

But Peter wept as he could not
Say what he thought to wrathful men.
Words of the truth would cost a lot;
Who can fight beasts in their wild den?

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH

A  WORTHY  LESSON

My Lord, You taught me basic truth;
The worth of man lies not in wealth.
You came to earth a man so poor
And died on cross without grandeur.

The Maker of the earth and space,
Who could destroy those who would face
Endured much pain on His death cross
And died too young accepting loss.

His mother's heart was torn by pain
To see her Son in such sharp bane.
A word from Him could end it all,
But what He wished was useful goal.

He could in His main aim succeed,
Defeat His death, in life proceed.
He showed that all was in His hand,
And resurrected back to land.

He cleared to man that He had strength
To trample foes as He crushed death
To show that power lies within
Not for vain wreck but useful gain.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

NO  FEAR,  THEY  ARE  NEAR.
I see a child and meditate for long,
"What sort of days will life bring him along?"
Who knows what he will do and where his feet
will lead, and where his destiny he'll meet.

Will he compete for fame with men so great,
or will he fear to leave his building gate?
Will he become a bold man of great name
or will he be a coward with no aim?

I wonder if wide smiles will clothe his face
or if that face will wear a firm grimace.
Will he have luck that yields more than he needs?
Or he should drudge so hard to feed his kids.

I think for long, while he holds his mum's hand
and enjoys walking between mum and dad.
He toddles caring not for what may come
as long as he walks with his dad and mum.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

WE'RE AWAITING CHRISTMAS.
Greatest hope to mankind will occur
in that cave faraway from the rich.
He's the king of all kings and He'll start
His own life in a cave shepherds have.

He conceives that His task is so hard.
They will end His short life on a cross,
and the start will be poor with no cash,
but He's pleased; His soul lives to no end.

He'll tell man nothing can spoil the glee;
a poor life, a harsh end won't bring fear
as man knows that his soul has no end
in a place full of calmness and peace.

Come, my Lord, show us that one is glad
as his joy overflows from inside
where no worms can destroy what he feels
which is wrought by Your hand of high mace.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________

FLATTERY
What can flattery be but kind words full of vice
When you don't mean the words that appear sweet and nice?
You will be like a snake full of fatal contents,
but you dress your outlook with the smoothest outfits.

Your inside is a bog that boils with horrid blobs,
but you dress them with what would look like showy robes.
None can see in that mire that appears calm to all
fearful death dragging man to the depth of deep hell.

The harsh truth comes and goes like the gas of a drink.
It can cause fizzing sound, and for eyes a quick blink,
but you drink a cool gulp that saves you from the heat
as the truth saves you from deadly stab in the heart.

Fearful snakes, horrid mires lurk in words, but who knows
what you hide in your heart of sure death or deep ooze.
With soft voice, a low hiss, you make ears skip your threat
to bring man fearful death after most hedious fate.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

WHERE  IS  HEAVEN ?

Grudge, how awful you become
when you make a heart your home.
You the throne of God destroy,
source of love and greatest joy.

God makes man's heart His own throne,
where his love is fully grown,
building heaven from the flesh,
which becomes love's holy creche.

Heaven dwells inside my heart,
and endows me greatest height.
Love is kept in secure place
where the Child can lie in peace.

Highest skies, you are just void.
Heaven can't be in that world.
Heaven's where whom l adore
nestles in the depth of core.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE LONELY SAILOR

Just a word with warmth of heart
He awaits, his sail to start.
Such a trip to that far place
Needs a look with profound sense.

Looking round him but no one
Casts a look ere he is gone.
Lonely heart will lose the nerve
As he wants someone to love.

His ship sets sail into sea
With no hands to waive or plea.
Words of care he did not hear;
Absence, longing none will bear.

No one shows a bit of love
Or avows a wish to live.
He will survive for himself;
None loves him, but he loves life.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
What have you done on that long trip which you have made?
You have worked hard, but all has left nothing in hand.
Your mind stands as a judge to ask what you have done.
What will your answer be? Is it, "l have done none"?

But you have worked so hard. What has your work led to?
You've helped a lot to be on better land than you.
Is that a good reply that can satiate your mind?
If yes, l think you have a mind too small and void.

You sit with those who speak about their work and wealth.
Are they of better skills that they could prove their strength?
Or you suppose they are what you cannot approve.
Say that to your own mind. Will it your words conceive?

You've drudged; that's great to hear, but now you do not cheer.
Did you give Caesar what to Caesar should adhere?
Thank God, your soul is clear, but is your mind clear too?
Your mind is shouting loud; calm down its loud ado.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

FATHER DENIS FITZ PATRICK IN A DREAM

You taught me English from the start
And helped me till l got B.A. in art,
Then appeared in a dream with prize for what l write.

You taught me verse and cleared my course
Through teachings of the Lord you gave me force
Till l could indite what my Lord would me announce.

You are the saint who came to me
A gift from God to show what l should see,
And then to make me write on which God will agree.

So pleased, l asked you why you gave
Me such a medal that l truly love;
You said to protect me and give my work a shove.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE   SUN
I know you are in such a splendid atmosphere.
You float in your high skies; your course is high and clear.
You are the sun of your unending and wide space.
The planets and the moons follow your imposed brace.

You see breathtaking views, but they don't ever change.
They are so lovely and without stint or short range.
You see the earth, the moons and what they have to do
that always seem the same for them, for me and you.

Your life is just the same routine of daily life
that even has no days, just same repeated stuff.
Don't you feel bored or need a sense of deep, shared love,
or are you just a rock, thrown just to shine and rove?

"Whatevet l can be, l give you warmth and light.
I love to give them both; they give you great delight.
I care about what l can give and not receive.
That's what makes me the sun. My love is just to give."
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

TELEVISION  ANNOUNCERS

Tv. announcers, do you know
That when you tell something untrue,
You get drug dealers too hostile
To human minds and public soul?

You puff your sayings right and left.
Poor minded people get bereft.
Their souls get filthy by your lies
And turn benighted by your guise.

All that you know, but fame is dear.
It can buy hearts and conscience smear.
But woe to that who cheats the babes.
His conscience some day wakes and grabs.

Man has a chance in his life time
To build a name and light a flame.
Don't light your flame by telling lies.
That flame is not what man descries.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

LET'S CONVINCE GOODNESS TO STAY.

Why do we look for what is bad?
Does not what we behold round us
Make us quite sure it is abound
And fills the world with dreadful fuss?

The ugly sights are spread nearby
To make this world a fearful scene.
Let's seek what causes all that cry
And replace it with smiling sheen.

How strange is man when sparks of hell
Provoke his hatred from inside,
And make it on his face reveal
The devil with its hateful pride?

The vicious sights have filled the world.
Let's light a lantern in the dark
And roam dark streets; we may behold
The ship which goodness will embark.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE LION AND THE SNAKE
Lion, don't be shy if you're
bitten by a shameless snake.
All your deeds are bold and clear.
You don't heed how snakes cause ache.

You behave during daylight,
while the creatures are all there.
With esteem they praise your might
and with scared eyes they all stare.

As the snakes use their own bile,
they inject it when it's night
while the lion is asleep
unable to see and fight.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________

THE  REAL  MAN
The wound is deep and none can see the blood.
They have soft hearts that can't deal with the wound.
They turn their faces not to hurt their eyes.
He gives the hand of cure though his heart cries.

He gives the help and leaves; the others come
to show that they have saved  from serious harm.
He looks with happy eyes at who is saved;
they show that through their work he is retrieved.

He lives great cheers as long as those around
are joyful and they speak with merry sound.
His voice is lowest and his tone is meek.
He says what cheers when he intends to speak.

He has great trust, but his face does not show.
Only the cruelest drive him to a row.
He gets engaged in fights though his heart's soft;
He never injures but defends his post.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

SALT OF EARTH

Salt of earth you've lost your taste;
You forget the words of Christ.
What will happen to the crowd
If your saltiness is void ?

Food of life, where is that cheer
When mums with their food appear.
Current salt has got bad smell
Driving children to expel.

I recall when women spent
Their whole mornings hearts content
With the scent which their food gave
When food's smell drove all to crave.

Where are food's smells of the past
When salt gave taste that would last ?
They have gone to no return
As salt smell we hate and spurn.

Life has lost its proper taste
Since salt's flavour was debased.
Great hope we have that Christ's hand
Salt of taste will give our land.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

HOLY  STRENGTH

Strongest people are so glad;
they don't care when things are bad.
They look with a smiling face
what is bad they can erase.

Beware of those who are weak
who try hardest not to speak.
If they start they cannot stop.
Their shout reaches highest top.

They live under greatest strain
shackled by an iron chain.
Woe to you if that chain broke,
it would lead to such fierce stroke.

When strong, you get high by strength.
You fear none, not even death.
After success, you don't care
if your death is nigh and there.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

POETRY  AND  LIFE

Trifle, trifle everywhere,
I wonder how people dare
to leave fire in their house
and blame for a meal a spouse.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
___________

THE BIRD AND THE TREE

You wait just for that special bird
That's stayed with you since parents fed
And share with it long days and nights
In ways no stranger interrupts.

Your leaves give it the coolest shade
And its ripe figs by you are made.
Its food is tasteless if not you
Have given it its sweet and dew.

Your haven is the tranquil place.
You refuge it from those that chase.
Its luckless days affect your heart
As your dry days drive it so ****.

You are its heart as it is yours.
Your tender branches make it snooze.
Your soul is one with its free soul
And both are joined with That great Whole.

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
____________

OR LET'S COVER OUR EYES ?
What will the world replace if it strips man of life?
Whatever it gives him for him it's not enough.
If there is after life, he will not care what death
will do with his poor flesh as his soul will survive.

Is that an easy case for man to solve through mind
or faith can shore him up to make him trust , but blind?
I wonder how man can neglect this crucial view
and think of birds and trees when writing verse and prose.

Are they a good escape that covers his own eyes
and makes him live a dream to overlook that plight?
He covers his scared eyes but knows that death lurks there.
Nothing can drive death out; let us it quite forget.

Where are you from all that? Could you give me your point?
The bugbear is quite near; how can we dance and cheer?
Let us be sure what death can bring to the man kind.
Is it the start of glee, or the end of a man's world?
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE LOVING DUCK

A duck was walking in the street
With little ducklings near its feet.
A duckling fell inside a drain;
The cover could fat mum detain.

It waited out quacking for help.
Some people came to grant that step.
It waited long till duckling came
And joined again the anxious mum.

I wonder if men are like ducks:
They fill the land with loudest quacks
For ***, the source of chicks, their love
The same with hens, a bird and dove.

Wise men and women practice ***
In ways artistic and complex,
But they use pills new life to ****,
In urgent flaws abortion skill.

If that poor child is among us,
How long do we stay in the house?
I wish that duck will make us think
That life is not mere *** and drink.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
___________

GIVE ME A SIGNAL, LORD.

No length of time on earth to lose
Without an aim that cools the heart.
Life is too short; use all the clues
To find life gist ere you depart.

Life is a chance to find your peace
When you a mighty goal achieve.
Then fear of time you will erase
As you the pith of life conceive.

Your peace may come from works of art
That leave on earth a glorious fame
Which keeps you glowing as a fact,
And your torch shines as brilliant flame.

The greatest gift is just to know
And get of second life so sure.
Can we  gain it through what we do
Or through what God on us confer?

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH

THE GREATEST MAN EVER
Jesus, You combine two natures,
one of man and one so mighty.
You created man and oceans,
and You lived a normal human.

Who can tell me if a person
can ever mention a great man
who has been greater than Jesus
though He lived a third of man's life?

Who could raise the dead and He rise,
cure the blind and forgive His foes?
Who could admit men to heaven
as He said to that on His right?

Forgiveness and not rules of force
was His laws and all His teachings.
Who could love His foes and let them
**** Him, but He, Christ Who loves all?
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________

E A S T E R

The rays that fill the sky and earth
Give light that makes us see and move
As Jesus' feat gives rays whose mirth
Fill our hearts with cheerful love.

No death can cast its gloom in space.
He has shown us that death is void
As He rose up to death efface
And join His twelve and all the crowd.

That makes us on earth dance and sing;
The trip to His great land elates.
All mothers, ere that feast, begin
To live great time preparing plates.

We dance and sing; all friends will come
And we'll enjoy a feast so great.
The cheers will fill our hearts and home
As Easter is the greatest feat.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

A  PRAYER
You know me better than l know
my deepest thoughts and what l feel.
I feel too weak and stretch my arms
to beg your eyes to see my fears.

I am a man and have a heart
that has some wishes to achieve.
I pass from failure to mean state
and hide my eyes from who demean.

I beg you and look up and pray
I need your grace that gives me faith.
It can uplift my heart to feel
that my wounds are not wasted pain.

My hunger is so hard to bear.
I beg you to blend it with hope
that makes me able to endure
and not fall down as the weak drop.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

TWO  ANGELS
When young, we played sweet doll-house,
in which kids would selves espouse.
I chose Suzan as my girl
as her hair had a nice curl.

It was such a lovely game.
lnstinct made us man and dame.
We were white at heart and pure,
but this game could us allure.

This game could stir us so much,
but l did not her hand touch.
I looked at her curl and eyes,
yet l could my love disguise.

Clean hearts joined us as pure kids,
who shunned what the Lord forbids,
but were so glad, on cloud nine,
two angels of love divine.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

SHE  IS  STILL  WITH  THEM.
She was great succour, and she saved her kids
from dangers that none saves but their mum's hands.
She went and left them faced by kinds of threats,
none rescues from except the acts of saints.

She left afar and dwelt in her dark grave,
the cave of no return that scares the brave.
She was so needed in her little house
as her kids' kinship was hinged on her voice.

Ere she had left, she prayed to Jesus' mum
to keep them safe, with mum's soul around them.
The Mother of mankind said, "You and l
will make your house a part of our sky."

The soul of man will stay alive for good.
It lives eternal life where that soul would.
It seeks for those whom it has loved the most
and intercedes for them to Jesus Christ.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

TOO  LATE  TO  CHANGE
He spent his youth consulting books
about the thoughts that were the best.
He worked so ******* thoughts and words
that gave a pledge of a false bequest.

When young, he earned what was enough
but could not store for his old age.
The books he read instructed him
when matching thoughts, wealth would soon  cringe.

His youth was spent on books of verse
that made him know the black from white,
but life taught him that only gold
could bring respect and prove him right.

He looked around and found his books
could not give him the cost of life.
They were like paupers on his desk
that could not save his kids from grief.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

TOO MEEK THOUGH HUGE
Where are we heading for with this progress?
The kings could **** and give dear lives to men.
With feudal lords, they could possess the land
and all the people with their planted grains
they ploughed and watered, yet they starved to death.

They fought and raved to reach their rights to live.
A lot of heads were kicked like ***** on fields
till men could find the spark that lit their way
and that gunpowder of the freedom day.

Democracy was gained, but tricks were born,
and science came to light what can destroy
the whole earth with the genes that could bring men
and send them where the dinosaurs were sent.

Poor dinosaurs, you were too meek though huge.
Your earth was wrecked when your space was in rage,
but though man is too small in size, he can
destroy his earth with his dark fumes and shells.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
___________

WORK AND HAPPINESS
Inner pleasure is so charming
but it leads to what's crestfallen.
Life outside us is quite lovely,
but its loss can always frighten.

Where are we from the solution?
One is endless but not blithesome
while the other is so brilliant,
but its end is like snake venom.

Life is great when work can fill it.
Man can find his joy in labour.
He will find an outside blitheness,
and his Lord will like his manner.

Milliards have arrived and parted
only few are highly honoured.
They've enjoyed their lovely voyage,
while on them their fame's been showered.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A PORTRAIT OF TWO CREATURES
A little boy of four is outside home.
He has a sandwich of delicious ham.
A cat rubs him and looks up with a mew.
He says, "All right, l'll share my meal with you.

"A bite for you and one for me all through.
I know your bites are small, but they will do.
I'll take small bites as l want to be fair.
Then both of us can take the correct share.

"This is the final round with its large meat.
Take just your due and give me mine to eat."
He offers it, and the cat eats much more
than is assigned to it as said before.

"You are a greedy cat. Why did you eat
more than your share of that delicious meat?
I'll tell my mum," he goes home crying loud.
The cat feels sorry, but it likes that round.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
_____________

GREEN  WITH  ENVY

I entwined my hand with hers,
strolled among the blooming flowers.
We sat on the grass to see
if the flowers could give glee.

I looked at her eyes and left
the hues that the petals got,
lived in peace inside her eyes,
leaving those fields and their skies.

I pressed her hand for a kiss;
I smelt odour of great bliss.
I ignored the jasmine's smell,
and on her hand l would dwell.

Then the flowers got so piqued.
They began to wane and wilt.
I eavesdropped a bee that nagged,
"Beauty can't defeat withstand."

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

A GRAVE VICE
Love of self, you are a vice.
You can cause a deadly sin
that l cry the rest of life
and l don't know how to clean.

You could sever me from those
who helped me and l adored.
Then l  threw them to regret
those moments that won't return.

Persons who gave me great help
I deserted as l thought
they did not respect my rights.
Now, l grieve those foolish acts.

Self esteem l hate your ghost,
haunting me for my past deeds.
If l go back to that time,
I love all and you won't heed.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

LOVE,  THE  BEST  PRAYER

You pray and think you do God's will
And deem you will in heaven dwell,
But if in love your heart is cold
Heaven won't be your coming world.

The world you seek is in your heart
Where God, His throne and peace has built.
There is your heaven and your dream
If love and peace from your heart gleam.

Your alms and prayers are so good;
They help to love and show the road
To love, to help and dry the tears;
Then you dwell in the world of cheers.

If you pray and that does not move
Your pity and your  heart's deep love,
Your prayers are not well addressed,
And their right way they have digressed.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

DON'T LEAVE ME.

Father dear, don't leave me;
My frail work's not enough.
Without you, l can't be
Happy in this hard life.

Without your strongest pull,
I can't stand on my feet.
I see life hard and cruel,
And ends with full defeat.

Like a child, my sole toy
Is held in your strong hand.
Life makes me weak and coy;
Have some ruth on Your child.

Please my Lord, don't leave me;
I don't know what to do.
I implore just to see
From your hand a small clue.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

TOO LATE
My dear father, where are you ?
You are so far from my view.
Life has taken you so far.
Only God knows where you are.

Love of old comes back to me,
stirring chagrin mixed with glee
when l recall your past days
and your love with its soft rays.

Man can meet great men on earth
who enhance his love and mirth,
but their value he can't ken
till their faces get unseen.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________

CHILDREN AND HEAVEN

If you don't get like a child,
Paradise won't be your land.
Paradise will be your house,
If like children you rejoice.

Who can live the joy of Earth
Except children in their mirth ?
If you don't believe, ask self
Which days you love in your life.

Chocolate or a piece of sweet
Makes their joy full and complete.
Games in streets bring them great joy ;
This pure life's what they enjoy.

They feel no hate and love all ;
Minutes only end their brawl.
They give their food when they see
Beggars come near with a plea.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

THE LOVE OF THE SOUL

I'm not aware of eyes or nose;
I'm not so fond of thoughts or form.
What makes me my heart and mind lose
Is that nice creature whose soul's warm.

That creature traps my heart though plain
As my eyes get blind to his shape.
What l care for is one big gain:
My soul with his yearns to escape.

They flee to where no eyes can spot,
Where no ears can hear what they say
And live_ far from the flesh and rot
The greatest joy of endless day.

No flesh can attain that warm glow
When two souls mix and their third's God.
They start their heaven from below
And both go up to upper ground.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
___________

THE WINGED VERSE

You are the steed that takes me far:
On earth, in space, or near the star.
No science fiction l write here,
But verse and its rhyme are my sphere.

I like to fly. What can l do?
My wings are short, nowhere can go.
Shall l stay where my land is bare
Or fly with verse where none can dare?

I float on oceans and the seas
And ride among the forest trees.
Sometimes, l probe the people's hearts
And share their secrets in those parts.

On such odd trips, none can compete.
They have no means and they retreat,
But verse can take me far away
Where no one can retrace my way.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________

DEATH AND ETERNITY

The heart that God resides
Will live eternal life.
That man to heaven glides
To be of endless stuff.

But that who gets his joy
From what his flesh can give,
Will face a sly decoy
As flesh can't for long live.

Where is your might poor flesh
If you cannot resist
Cruel death and its strong mesh
That you can't flee its fist?

Supposed to trample death,
And live eternal life,
You should control your filth
That renders you its serf.

BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
____________