Valetudinarian Poem by Hannington Mumo

As lingering despair plagued his mind
Many reminiscences weighed him down,
Of undone tasks still to be embarked upon,
Of humdrums rendering him a lonely clown.

He sighed as the clock struck midnight.
His had been such a tiring trekking fight
With mean ghosts that shortened his life,
Making it a 24-hour span of cycled strife.

As a fresh tick welcomed the virgin day,
He well knew that his turns were gone.
Plaintive bird-songs chirrupped it clear
That the sun was not to rise that morn.

He mumbled his half-forgotten prayers.
Were it not for easy gold and its snares,
He'd have said his old doxologies right;
But such weren't the priorities that night.

As the ticking hastened he became relieved,
And took his diary and wrote: I HAVE LIVED.