GONE WITH THE WIND

Gone with the wind
Like it was but a dream
The struggles and the strain
The puzzles and the pain

Like a victim of mindtricks
It seems as if they never were
As frantic as a psychotic
Living in an imagined fear

But it all happened just like yesterday
Now not more than mere memories
All the troubled thoughts
The wearisome work
The bewildered mind
The tiring smile

Pains and gains are trapped in moments
'Tis but a little while they last
Appreciate the good; be patient with all that befalls you
For its period is decreed to lapse

FGC IK '05

The matter in my skull remains pregnant
Ladened with memories
Memories of those years gone past yet so significant
The yesteryears we all remember like we can still touch, feel and see

Gladly remembered with much nostalgia
Inspired by thy names and words
I broke my water
Shall I then not give birth to a few words?

For we were lads and lasses
Led most of our lives in our distinct classes
Our haven; our home
With our friends we sought solace and asylum

By no small measure
Brothers and sisters we became
And in leisure
Friends we remained

Inspection water in the jungle
I still remember
Seeking freedom from skippos
School bags became mobile lockers

What a bond we shared
A bond like no other
For our fates were sharpened by each other
By our dears and those we feared

Why should I leave our dining out
When with pure joy and gaiety we'd shout
'Mimi rere mi do' at the sound of the siren
With all roads leading to the dining?

Our impending separation only dawned on me
As we wrote our final exams
Slumbooks we'd fill
Hoping to keep our memories warm

Like divergent rays from a light-bulb
Hot and hurt as we separated
We spread across the world
I hope-in one way or the other-your path you've illuminated

shakir

From the Memoirs of an Intern:Dichotomy

My shadow darkens its red floors again
With a subtle smile; a deserved decor to my face
Time has passed but so little change
My head held up high;like a peacock's hanging in space

With a new pair of eyeglasses to see through
'tseems like living the same life but anew
The same castle, I keep walking through
Yet my world looks so different; so new

Of our erstwhile clamoured rights
Looking suprisingly wrong
Those acts we were so quick to justify
Fast precipitating out as inappropriate ones

But I grew up on this sugarcane field
So much stress; too much toil
With little or no compensatory yield
Our sweats flooded the soil

Has my skin been bleached to white?
A red whip in my hand for my fellow negro
Shall I take solace? Being cruel to be kind?
Or dare to be another Django?

WORDS

Words are cool
Words can soothe
Words can heal
Words can kill

Words have got
Many men their wives
Words have cost
Many men their lives

Words have driven the meek to war
Words have sheathed bloodthirsty swords
With words we teach
With words we preach

Of words
We continually learn
Of its fruits
We shall always earn

We ought to always make
Our every word kind
Consequences of what we say
We should always mind

Shakir

GARMENTS

From the first tasleem exchanged
To the qabuul-an end to being estranged
Lies the rewarding journey
Of how erstwhile strangers
Came to be more than bare buddies
A love tale
To be kept in your chest of light-hearted memories
Never to grow stale

For the other you've become as garments
To offer alluring adornment
With loving warmth and safety
A source of pride and beauty
Let the historians add to the annals of history
As the poets pen in their poetry
That you held hands today
What a momentous May.


 In honor of a dear friend (Pharm Ibrahim Adebayo) & his heartthrob as they tied the knot on 28th May, 2016.

Amor gignit amorem

From that first glance
That kindled a wish
And sent shivers down your spine
To the echoes of those two words
That fulfilled it
And has all gathered at an auspicious clime
Lies the labyrinthine quest
To win her heart; your treasure chest

Known to few
Are the dragons you slew
Known to some
Are the days you braved the storm
Known to more
Is you've become her knight in shining armor
And known to all
Is today you walk down the aisle with your love

To love and be loved
Comes with joy
To have and to hold
Calms the soul
Amor gignit amorem
When your heart falls victim
Of love's tender ploy
What would you have the poor thing do?

Shakir.
This piece is dedicated to a colleague and friend, a man of honor (Pharm Elvis Anyaibe) as he prepared to take a stroll down the aisle.

For Punctuality's sake

By the first streak of the dawn
We are up on our feet
With half-suppressed yawns
Our minds are set on getting a seat
Helter skelter
We look for water
Cos we dread being late
A quick shower
Left over from dinner
To make the deadline of eight

Friends

friends are special people close to our heart. they can make us smile even when we detest to do so. what would life be without friends.

Lessons from the Laws of Motion

LIFE'S LESSONS FROM THE LAWS OF MOTION

   First Law of Motion: Motivation

Every object will continue to be in a state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by a (external) force.

In life, there are many things we fail to do, not because we didn't have the opportunity, but rather because we simply failed to take the chance. How many a time do we realize we ought to do something yet we don't feel the zeal to accomplish it! Motivation is fundamental in achieving any goal. In fact, we need to be motivated to set our goals in the first place. That shows just how important it really is.

   Motivation can be described as an external force that acts on one's inner will such that it sets it to motion. It is simply a reason for which an action is intended.

Second Law of Motion: Proportionality of Force Applied to Momentum Obtained.

“A net force on an object will accelerate it—that is, change its velocity. The acceleration will be proportional to the magnitude of the force and in the same direction as the force.”

What motivates people is almost as diverse as the people themselves and different kinds of motivation are needed for different tasks. Finding the right kind of motivation is just as important as accomplishing the task at hand because the two are like pegs and holes, they must fit into each other. Whatever inspires an individual to do a thing must have enough momentum to surmount whatever challenges that lies in his path. The desire to get a decent meal might be enough to make a man walk down the street to the grocery store on a normal day but the same desire won't be enough to get him out of his house when he's almost deafened by gunshots just outside his home. But the thought of saving his skin would be enough to make him stand up to more daring situations.

   Sometimes, people set out to do things struggling very hard at first only to give up midway. This is mostly due to weak motivation i.e. the motivation for the goal falls short of its requirement. Simply, they don't feel the goal is worth the struggle, at least, not anymore. At such point, the individual has to look inward and re-evaluate the importance of the goal he desires to achieve. If he starts to feel the reason is not worth the effort, he needs to find a bigger reason and assert it in his mind and at times all that may be needed could be to remember the reason he set out in the first place to achieve his goal. As humans, we tend to forget things pretty quickly especially when faced with challenges.

    Challenges are no more than frictional forces acting in opposite direction to wherever we head. Funny enough, whichever way we head there will be opposing forces acting against our chosen direction. Though there is a great challenge associated with starting which is very comparable to the static frictional force, it does not end at that because there is also the dynamic frictional force equally comparable to the challenges you meet on the go. But as in physics, the dynamic frictional force is usually lesser than the static frictional force. Among the challenges we need to overcome before we begin anything is our fears, some of which we later find to be inconsequential as we move ahead.

Third Law of Motion: Reciprocity of Action and Reaction.

“Action and reaction are equal but opposite (in direction).”

In life, it is important to know and always note that the average person will treat you as you treat him or her especially when you are both on equal footing. For those who smile often, it seems like everyone smiles at them and vice-versa. When you assist people in their times of want they are often eager to return the favor to you. Thus, ‘do’ to others as you would most love for them to ‘do’ to you.

Note: I like to point out that this piece is an extrapolation of physical sciences into social sciences and as such, there are bound to be exceptions. In fact, every rule I know seem to come with its exceptions.

VOYAGE THROUGH PHARMACY

We came from far and wide­­­­­

With tears of joy and glistening eyes

Charting a perilous path on a noble cause

Like water at its middle course

Patiently meandering across life's bends

We study to fulfil our dreams

In a life with endless ENDS

We desire more than meagre MEANS

With tales of incredulity

That rivals ancient Greek mythology

Our ears were filled

Gathering resonant resolution we plunged on

Like Zulu warriors chanting war songs

With hearts seemingly forged from steel

Racing with our scribbling pens and sprinting feet

Across lecture theaters and our ruled sheets

Standing before books and bags claiming rows of seats

Keeping calm was an appalling feat

Our worries were yet to start

‘Though we thought we stood at its peak

All we yet needed was two-fifth to pass

But our naïve minds were never at ease

The splendid architecture we once praised

Gradually dwindling in its beauty

With the colossal challenges we faced

We felt busier than worker bees

Our shadows darkened the red floors

In huge numbers we came through its opened doors

Adorned with smiles and joyous hearts

Whispering to ourselves “We’re here at last”

With our pens we slew thousands of dragons

Hoping to bring home the Golden Fleece

Dispensing erstwhile strange pharmacojargons

Our examiners we strove to please

Casting my mind at the myriad of sleepless nights

‘Finding Nemo’, our frog prince

I remember the shrilling squeals and feminine fright

Seeing him hapless might make you wince

We’ve been around the world

Studying barks, fruits and leaves

And for agar’s stake in our micro world

Gladly, we dived and explored the seas

It’s been quite adventurous

With some memories, I’m greatly pleased

To cherished colleagues and bosom buddies

I believe you’ll be sorely missed­­

                                                       dedicated to all oau pharmacy students

Life is short

Life is so short but we fail to realise this till it passes away never to return again. No one can neither rewind nor forward because you don't have its remote control. We can only live each moment in life as they come. It is best to live it in the cause of Allah to ensure minimal regrets (i.e. I wish i had done more than i did in servitude to Allah) in the next life.
            "I wish I had more" would never be incomparable to "I wish I had done at least something".

Changing our sinful ways

Of the most difficult things to change are one's inclinations, desires, habits, thoughts and character. May Allah assist us all in the positive changing process. It is easy to imagine but often difficult to accomplish. Our hearts' yearnings can seem too strong at times. Though we know what is wrong and right. Distinguishing the two is not our plight. But rather continually giving preference to what is right over what is wrong, that is the herculean task. There is hardly any man who does evil and is unaware of its nature rather he either strives in his heart to justify it or tells himself he is damning the consequences. Whichever of the two, he secretly regrets in his heart but might be too proud to show the guilt which lurks inside as he desperately tries not to reveal it. However, it is open to Allah wherever it might be. Another might decide to show the remorse he feels in his heart and attempt to salvage his situation by turning in repentance to his Lord the Most High and that is better for him.

Who is your Lord?

We are all slaves. What differs between us is what we willing submit ourselves to. For some its their desires, money, fashion, acknowledgment from others, 'stars,' parents etc. But there is only one being that deserves our total uninhibited submission. HE IS ALLAH. My Lord and your Lord. If you disbelieve, kindly bear witness that I am one of the muslims.

Sins ain't worth the effort

Nights dissolve into days
And days dissolve into nights
We've lived and died
As many as the days and nights
That we've left behind
All shall leave this world for another realm
Unable to return with sealed fates
That we're still chanced to determine today
A moment more may be too late
If you continue with evil ways
Why do we trade pounds to earn pennies
Momentous only are the pleasures derived from sins
But their regrets live with us for the rest of our lives and more
So how do we reason
Blinded by emotions
That leaves us with guilt, remorse and anguish moments after
Sins ain't worth it
Lets turn in repentance to Allah

Are you a pharmacist or a crammercist?

ARE YOU A PHARMACIST OR A CRAMMERCIST?
Though we are graduates of the prestigious school of pharmacy awaiting to be inducted into the fold of 'men of honor', truth be told, most of us are far from being prepared and ready for the outside world. We may have successfully crammed our ways through pharmacy school but it is time to enliven our functional brain cells for the imminent challenges and practical problems ahead.

Be that as it may, we have no current problem because we are fully equipped with the resources (e.g. BNF, textbooks, materials and internet) to tap from and enrich our knowledge bank. It is time for us to start reading again, not for the marks this time, but for the future lest our hands be covered with others' blood then it'll be too late to regret. The passmark is no longer fifty percent. It has just been raised to LIFE and DEATH.

                            'With great power comes greater responsibility".

Race

A race of a thousand years

Begins with a single stride

As the finishing line draws near

Emotions are hard to hide

We're paying the price

With our eyes on the prize

Déjà vu

Déjà vu
Nostalgic blues
My quaking heart
I so much need to soothe
Melancholic memories from the past
Days of sec. school

Like a broken record
Events in repetition
We have to grow up
'Tis part of the transition
We need to cheer up
Can't help the tradition

The goodbye in my ears still echoes
Of the parted i still see shadows
Lingering thoughts
Reverberant words

Truth hits us hard
Only where it hurts the most
We must part
To seek the future's treasure trove
We can only set sail
When we leave the coast
Of challenges and life's travail
I opine you make the most

Leaders

We were once girls and boys
Occupied only with our dolls and toys
Without a care in the world
Save for food and fun
For schools, we had less concern
The reason for reading we could barely discern
"Tomorrow's leaders" they called us
In our potential skills and talents
they had utmost trust

We've always had fairy dreams of our own
Looking into the future carving a niche of our own
Some dreams we've had to leave in the past
The realities of life we've had to live past
Growing up hasn't been easy
It is hard to become a (wo)man
'Life ain't a bed of roses'
Our experience has made us understand

Yesterday we were growing up
But today we are grown ups
More responsibilities lying on our shoulders
Cos we are today's leaders

Last moments: From Ajose to Marquis.

As wide-eyed as any novice
Many sprinting to Ajose at the first hint of the cock's crows
Burning calories or 'scarce means' on bikes
Wiping sweat off the brows
Only to fall asleep when the lectures begin
Standing or on the floor sitting
While bags, books and even fullscap sheet
May comfortably sit on seats
In proxy for those whose shadows are yet to darken the door
Arriving half an hour to class?
Just stand by the door
Or comfort yourself with the welcoming floor
After the rain of its test had fallen
And the local champions had fallen
Empty seats awaited us more often 
In love with the podium many had fallen

What shall u remember the bats for?
Their cries or their golden waste?
Which they offer generously
To the not-so-lucky pavement and hasty passers-by asides me

Wow it's almost nine
Latecomers now at advantage
With the bag clutched to the side
Heading for BOOC's stage
Threatening to burst in through its doors ajar
Not minding the lecturer looking on furiously from afar

...At the level of the roofed Colosseum
Ain't watching gladiators with swords
But lecturers battling with the board
The confused students finding their way in a myriad of labyrinthine words
m1, n2, n1 and m2 of optics (emu one, enu two, enu one, emu two)
so what's he saying?
Is it m or n?
In total darkness of the light we're studying

Dashing back to BOOC
Wonders shall surely never cease
Life began from the bigbang
Complicating matters, what a 'think tank'

Autobiography

Seconds roll into minutes, minutes into hours...you know the rest. New pages are opened every day. Your actions and inactions are the ink with which you write your own history. Note that you are writing your biography. How do you want the summary of your life to look like? Cos it depends upon you.