ONE DARK SEASON

This poem was composed by my lovely friend Oluwatosin Ibiwoye. This is a poem that unravels the contents of a heart yearning for freedom from the struggle against sin. Enjoy.

Lord, far from you have I strayed,

While my duty I dispense on this life’s fray

Daily I set my priorities,

Though you made the list in the morn,

And in my heart you were topmost,

Now, my actions betray all these.

Lord, now your Word to me is strange

In my mouth they have become stale.

As much as I desire of it,

My soul become fatigued,

When the Word I study,

to eat of the Bread of Life.

Lord, now struggle pervades my time

When with you I spend on my knees

That I may recount my deeds before you

And how weak I have become

When I kneel in prayer before you,

And commune as son to Father.

Lord, the time allotted to you

In the morn early before dawn,

Now I spend in bed

My body wearies to out of bed come

Watching, as I lay in bed, the time ticks

And behold it’s time to venture out.

Lord, now my soul is empty -

Empty of the life of Jesus I enjoyed,

Empty of the sweet fellowship of the Spirit,

But full of the mess of yesterday –

Things long dead but getting a tinge of life.

I fear they rise up and choke me.

Lord, afar I see the dreaded sight,

The sight of the old master approaching,

With whips by which I was humiliated.

Lord, with you my heart is,

But away and unrestrained something pulls.

And now I find my will weak to hold back.

Lord, my heart is weary and burdened,

I loathe this state wherein I am.

My responsibilities lie on the altar dusty,

For a long while I’ve not attended unto them.

The fire on the altar will soon burn out,

If soon oil be not poured into the lamp.

Lord the glamours and clamours of yesterday,

Now cloud my view and vision of you.

Lord, this cloud hung over my head

Covering your glory and promises for me.

I pray I be not drenched in it,

For I see soon it will fall.

Lord, help me now that I’m distraught,

And restore me to your abode.

There my heart longs to be day and night.

Lord, this storm breaks me apart,

Putting the pieces together is wearisome,

And unless you do help, I’ll be doomed

Lord, draw me close to thee,

Either by hook or by net –

Only by Thy Hand rescue my soul.

Lord, deep in my soul and heart,

Stamp Thine glorious image,

That forever from you I will not stray.

Oluwatosin Ibiwoye is a staff of the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), an indigenous organisation interested raising a godly generation in the country. He is a Life Investor, Life Trainer, and a Leadership Development Manager. He lives in Lokoja.