A Sweet Bitter Truth Poem by Okunola Peace

I am a man walking on the earth surface
And having seen the cruelty of my kinds,
My silence and unrelenting vigilance
Have been my shield and guide.

I am always waiting and watching
The world on which I learn to read
The language of all men and write
down the turmoil raging in my mind.

It was a jolt of the sweet bitter truth
That no man is perfect in all things
For the attack came like blue lighting
Striking suddenly in a cloudy night.

My mind was elsewhere, laughing in mirth,
Uncaring as time slowly pass me by
In the middle of handwork, sweet and mild
And then I realize the wrong done to me.

O! Light of the sun, O! Stars of night,
Are you going to silently watch me as I die
In the arms of the world I made my dwelling?
For I am weak and dying from treachery.

The evening's knife has carved away the light
And fatigue will soon lull the body to sleep
So, while I still draw breath and breathe,
I will be patient and hope for the best in life.