I Had To Comply Poem by Thembekile Ntshangase

Through thick and thin,
I had to comply.
Resemble uprightness.
Maintain the good record.
Though I felt otherwise,
I had to portray utmost toughness.

Even though I would have loved to get loose;
Let my imagination run free,
Honestly reveal what I feel inside….
I had to hold my horses,
Keep it together,
Stay focused and calm,
Be an exemplary of genuine upright living,
Do things according to enforced firm morals,
Live up to the expectations of my devotees.
It’s not that I was up for it or
Fully willing to do things that way,
I simply had to comply.

I didn't know whether I’d cope or
Withstand the challenges that came on the way,
But I trusted in God: My Refuge,
My Guiding Light,
My tower of strength,
So He held me tight
With His warm, Loving, forgiving, reassuring hand of grace,
He promised me that everything is going to work out just fine.
Just the way I've always wanted it to be.
So there was no other way,
No escape point, I had to comply.
Obey God’s will,
Even when my very being was at most
No longer willing to….comply
I had to comply.