Shall I Still? Poem by Chukwukadibia Benjamin

When comes the fame
And the egos flame

When comes the wealth
When I could guarantee my health

When in my career I thrive
And with no other strive

When my table is adorned with dishes
And with it comes pleasures that never finishes

When come the babies
Made by one or more ladies

When all shall abound that I need
And riches sprout everyday like a seed

When songs shall be made in my honour
And my name do many grant a favour

When living feels like living
And dying sounds like kidding
When abundant is my soul's craving
And sufficient is all my heart's yearning

When the trees hold fruits all year
And I savour celestially the buddings of May
When comes the sunny day
Shall I dear lord still
Shall I still dear lord, remember thee at will?

II

If the trees leaves do shed
And sounds of good tidings be scarcely heard

If barren turned the vine's grape
And my every day do lead closer to the grave

If there ceases reasons to laugh
Yet pains of me refuse to have enough

If the sunny days seem so out of sight
And rainy days seem to trail my path

If my table becomes absent of crumbs
And my fire place knows no scent of fresh shrubs

If removed is my place of dwelling
And slowly crawls every new dawning

If fellowship died in brotherhood
And I become sad tidings of the neighbourhood

If gone so soon
Are all fame and fortune

Would I dear lord still
Would I dear lord still serve thee at will?