Written Pieces | Working On Words

I can imagine those who those who have gone before me saying:

If you want the ride to glory you first have to sit on the cold hard saddle,
You can’t say you want to be triumphant but you don’t want to be in a battle..!

I have achieved and gained a lot but it did not come with ease,
I may have ended standing tall but I began down on my knees.

So if you want my present joy you have to also want my past pain,
If you want to overcome like me you have to want what I overcame.

I’ve been in some awkward positions; I’ve had to make some difficult decisions,
I’ve had to believe the impossible, rejoice before results and dare to keep chasing my visions.

You have to do things you’ve never done in order to go places you’ve never been,
You have to be bold, strong, sacrifice, take risks and try things you’ve never seen.

If you want to be successful you can’t just sit back and be liming,
If you want to get the most out then you have got to put the time in.

If you want to be prosperous then know that it comes at a cost,
I’ve learnt to cherish what I have because I know what it is to have lost.

The reason I’ve been comforted is because I have had to mourn
The reason I can recognise real love is because my heart has been torn.

So do you want all that? Those early mornings, long days and tired yet still up all night..?
The initial shame and frustration of getting things wrong more than I was getting them right..?

Those times of isolation and loneliness; those times I thought I could not take it!
And those times things weren’t happening by themselves so I had to choose to make it!

Those times I knew I was out of my league but kept on fighting through my fears,
And when challenges peeked, when there was blood and sweat and verging on the tears.

Those times I had to stomach critique which went way below the belt,
And the times that I didn’t feel well but worked despite of how I felt.

Those times my skin had to be tough as my ideas got refuted,
And in the attempt to do things right know that you will be persecuted.

Sometimes you’ll be running on empty but still have to keep serving and giving up too,
I’ve had the challenge of expressing things to others I wasn’t sure I was living up to?

Also, realise that you have to suffer with Him before you reign with Him,
And be aware you have to be willing to lose for Him before you gain in Him.

I know how to handle my riches because I know what it is to be poor,
At times you have to have less to be able to truly appreciate more.

If you desire to go far, then you have to take it steady or…
Your talent may take you places that your character was not ready for.

You have to first be faithful with a few; then you’re equipped to handle the various winnings,
As He will make you ruler over many so do not despise those small humble beginnings.

You have to want the package experience, both the good times and the bad,
Those events that left me disappointed as well as the ones that made me glad.

You have to want the process, for anything you want to do or be,
You have to actually encounter war, and then rise above… That’s when you have the victory!

Be encouraged; you are more than a conqueror!

Back in Jamaica, we used to catch live crabs:
Put them in a bucket, that’s what we did,
If there was one in the bucket we would need a lid.
Two or more, no need for a lock, they would be each others stumbling block!
So; put one crab in a bucket and it will escape
But wait -
When you accompany it with a few of its mates, they don’t cooperate,
Nor do they debate, they portray essence of hate and they all have that same trait,
So there’s no lid, no, and no need to sedate; they will pull down and not hesitate,
That’s why no one evacuates, they claw each other down that’s how they relate,
So they each stay in that bottom of the bucket state, and no one makes it to the top –
They want you to share their fate.
There’s no escape!

What I’m trying to say, well I’m sure you know:
That we humans are like crabs in a bucket or a bowl.
We are all in the world, no need for a cover, like crabs in a bucket we tear down each other!
Why can’t we just be happy for our brother? This is one thing I am yet to discover?!
People want you to do well, but not too well, they don’t want you to completely come out of your shell.
So people discourage you with their lack of cooperation,
They can’t wait for you to fail so they can offer commiseration.
They’re quick off the mark when it comes time to criticise,
The good parts they seem to miss but the bad parts they emphasize,
They won’t introduce encouragement but they will summarise your demise.
And when you’re openly blessed, they’re secretly vexed; they’ll smile in your face but that smile is in jest.
You do something well and they squint up their nose; you try something new they, strike an uninterested pose.
You never see or hear from them when you’re doing something right,
They never want to tell you that you got your game tight.
But do something wrong and they’re first in the queue, notice how all of a sudden you see them looking for you -
Just can’t wait to say how bad you did do!
They’d never say it out-loud but rather than see you succeed,
They feel better about themselves so they’d rather see you in need!

But we’ve held each other back for way too long, it’s wrong;
I hope you’re with me when I say we need to move on.
Instead of all of us being submerged into sinking sand;
Want your brother to succeed in fact give Him a hand.
Side by side; you with me; power and strength in unity!

Have that mentality whereby you know what you’re about,
Though people may want you to descend you are going to mount!
Decided for yourself whether I need to kick scream or shout; nobody’s clawing me down…

I’m making it out!!!

First published by WOW PUBLISHING HOUSE 2007: ‘Just a Taste of what’s to come’