"You are neither here nor there,Ā Ā
How can you be successful?"āa voice in the air.Ā Ā
It muttered once, but I heard it thrice,Ā Ā
A haunting echo, not so nice.Ā Ā
I reflect deepācould this be me?Ā Ā
Is it instinct or a mind not free?Ā Ā
Am I imagining things in vain?Ā Ā
But he is right, and I feel the strain.Ā Ā
Jack of all trade and master of none,Ā Ā
But one who masters will inspire someone.Ā Ā
Too many tasks leave all half done,Ā Ā
While one at a time brings work well spun.Ā Ā
All in one is same as nothing,Ā Ā
But one in one births everything.Ā Ā
I do not write this to condemn,Ā Ā
You can succeed with more than ten.Ā Ā
But purpose and vision must lead the way,Ā Ā
Without them, youāre a leaf that sways.Ā Ā
A man without vision is like a trash,Ā Ā
Waved by the wind in a reckless dash.Ā Ā
Iām glad Iāve found my voice at last,Ā Ā
Through Poetry, wisdom shall be cast.
āThe Voice That Spokeā is a soul-searching poem by Nigerian poet Osahenoma Favour Moses, born from a moment of internal reckoning. It begins with a haunting voiceāan echo of doubtāthat challenges the poetās scattered pursuits across multiple creative paths: acting, preaching, storytelling, and poetry. Through rhythmic reflection and layered wisdom, the poem explores the tension between versatility and focus, urging readers to discover their true calling and nurture it with purpose.
This piece is more than a confessionāitās a call to clarity. It speaks to anyone who feels stretched thin by ambition, reminding them that success is not in doing everything, but in doing something well. With poetic precision, Favour casts light on the importance of vision, identity, and intentional growth.
āThe Voice That Spokeā is part of his growing body of work known as Wisdom in Poetryāa genre where truth meets verse, and insight flows through rhythm.
