Doom And Gloom Poem by Nweke Emmanuel

Listen, oh! Soldier of Christ - Look and you will see
The time is near - when people rejoice in woe
But who have seen - what we have seen
And rejoice at the dawn of life?
Who has heard - the beat of the drum? 5
And danced with a troubled hearth? *
I would have died of fear
But my heart has been marked
With the sign - the elect
A soldier ready to die* 10
Oh! Joy which kept pains
Inconceivable, to punishments we refused
Why? - Some slept at birth
Than await this doomsday approach*
Like the time of Ararat 15
When the strong told feeble tales
And few - like we know who
Had their brains knocked out
By them, in the city we live but few

Proclaiming, these must end 20
The drum for battle has sounded
If many (soldiers) are ready to fight
Arise! Warriors, pick up your shield
Listen and never dance
Prepare - for the line is drawn 25
Ready to crush the dead
Training your muscles, the battle is fierce
Never to rest except in life*
Everyone who turns back sees doom
Some (of the first) who have fought 30
Have been captured ready to burn*
But still we are strong
And they call on men for aid*
Arise! With His word against the foe
Depart, with truth to cure the woe 35
Who has called, who can stand?
Soldiers ready for immortality*
So, the gloom can turn to gloss
If the elect will fall
And be ambidextrous with the sword 40
For the battle two have fought
And the third - to make it real
Only the wise, will succeed*