A psalm to the Lord

O Lord
Why are you so far away from me?
Why do you seem not to hear when I call?
When I cry till I can almost not speak
When my heart is so full of pain and sorrow that I wish I were dead
O Lord, hear me when I call
Answer when I cry
For you are my God and no other
For the sake of your name do not forsake me
Turn to me and heal me
Turn and hear your servant 
O God
From of old, you are God and there is none like you
For the sake of your name, turn and relent 
Do not look upon our sins 
But show us your mercy we implore

Angela Azumah Alu

Deadlines

Deadlines, deadlines

We need them; we hate them

We can't do without them

When you're on the other side, waiting

you wish they'd hurry up already

When you're the one with the deadline

You wish you had more time

Deadlines, deadlines

We can't do without them

In everything they're ubiquitous

They provide a measure of productivity

Which in many ways directly influences income

And even our reputation

So as deadlines are odious, they're necessary

Deadlines, deadlines

Such a simple word, abi

But so pregnant with meaning

So very applicable to daily life

And of course such a good subject for a poem

for my dear friend Dormenyo

who always has deadlines to meet!

Angela Azumah Alu, 6/11/14, Accra

CITATION FOR FATHER BERNARD

Young pojoba, called of God

To be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek

Trained and ordained and posted to Good Shepherd Parish

Served dutifully and cheerfully under various parish priests

Always, with a shout of “God is good all the time!”

Older now, wiser too, with sprinklings of gray hair

Posted now as parish priest by the Archbishop

Reminding all that recognition and elevation follow those

Who serve dutifully and cheerfully

Always, with a shout of “God is good all the time!”

Fr.  Bernard Kwasi Kyei, lectors of Good Shepherd Parish bid you adieu

Many a sermon of yours strengthened our spirits and

You oft quieted our restless souls in the confessional

Many of us looked up to you as role model, father and mentor

We will never forget you but serve dutifully and cheerfully as you did

Always, with a shout of “God is good all the time!”

Angela Azumah Alu

A Beard

A beard

A beard is an exciting thing to have

A beard is wonderful to hold and to touch

A beard is rough to the touch

I love the feel of it in my hands

A moustache adds a most dashing look

One I’m quite partial to, I must say

A beard

A beard is an exciting thing to have

Tha’ almost makes me wish I were a boy

That I too would have a beard I could trim

And make all fine for the girls to see

And look really quite debonair with my five five

I’d love to have a beard if I weren’t a girl

A beard

A beard is a most dashing thing to have

Tis interesting how many think it’s a bother

Tis sad really how many get bumps when they shave

Or are not allowed to keep beards in their offices

Well I pray for sons who’ll have beards

And a husband who’ll have a beard and love to keep it on

Always!

Tis the revenge of the beards!

Angela Azumah Alu

Procrastination

Thou art my mortal enemy; yet thee I embrace as I would the closest of friends

Thy lies have caused many an embarrassment for me; yet continually I am in bed with thee          

Thou causest me many regrets and always I am dissatisfied with myself

Procrastination!

Thou art my enemy; I must see thee as such

I see thee as such; I must treat thee as such

I treat thee as such; I must not listen to thy lies

Procrastination!

Now is the time; not to think, talk or analyse

Now is the time; just to act, do, make, write

Now is the time; time goes only forwards and waits not

Procrastination!

Thou art my enemy; I will bed no longer with thee

I shed of thy clothes; I regain my life

I start anew; living life as timebound

Angela Azumah Alu 

05/03/14

For Esther

When life has me wearied and I wonder what I’m doing

When all seems lost and I can only cry

When I have lost the song in my heart and wish I were dead

When nothing seems worthwhile and I am down

When I am not happy and wonder if I’ll ever be

When I feel like the worst person in the world and

When I wonder why I am alive

I choose to rejoice in my Saviour who is my joy and my strength

I choose to rejoice in Him who gives me joy in the morning though sorrow may endure for a night

I choose to rejoice in my LORD who overcame death by dying

I choose to rejoice in my Saviour who came to restore me to fellowship with God

I choose to rejoice in my resurrected Christ who used the persecution of the early Christians to lead them out of their comfort zones and to spread the good news

I choose to rejoice in my Lord of Hosts who is my banner in the fight not against flesh and blood

I choose to rejoice in the Lord my shepherd; because of Him I never want

I see, with the eyes of faith, His mercies that are new every morning

I see and I know, He is the bread of Life and with Him I am never hungry or thirsty

I see, I know and I understand, with Him all things are possible; He is my strength

I trust; I hope; I am renewed; and I step out to love just as He did

Because His grace in me empowers me for good and excellent works!

I am His work of art and very precious to Him!

Angela Azumah Alu

07/05/14

On the stairs

On the stairs 

Confidences are shared

Deep thoughts are exchanged

Dreams are spoken

Life is lived

On the stairs

The sky's the limit

No problem is too great to be solved

God hears and He speaks

on the stairs

On the stairs

Hearts may be broken

Dreams may be shattered

Disappointments may happen

But life goes on

On the stairs

Friendship remains

When all else is gone

When all is said and done

Friendship is king

(The stairs are an actual location in Tema Community Two. This poem celebrates a friendship that survived a dating relationship.)