A Stubborn Cactus

Because, like a thick-hard-walled-succulent-stem, my pine-mouth sips and swallows the spit of the ALMIGHTY....

APPLYING ISAIAH 43 TO A STUBBORN CACTUS
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have
put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.

–CEV, Isaiah 43:19.

I have seen flowers
withered
in the garden of time.
I have heard the rustling
of
brittle-brown-fallen-dead-leaves,
crumbling
under my feeble feet.
I have watched beauty
faded
in the eyes of wit.
I have witnessed fragile bodies,
ended up in roses,
with petals and thorns.
But here, I am. In a parched land —
in a forest with trees ripped of leaves.
I, a binary between two mountains
cloven by a valley.
I, a seed, sown in the chasm of life,
like a needle buried
in the belly of the ocean.
This is me—a stubborn
cactus—that wouldn’t cease blooming,
even in the thawing heat of drought
in this scorching desert.
Because, like a
thick-hard-walled-succulent-stem,
my pine-mouth sips and swallows
the spit of the ALMIGHTY.

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Tomii
2 months ago

This is very poetic.
I love the way the poet portrays the beauty of nature to human life.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Tomii

Thank you for reading. Man and nature and inherently inseparable.

Alchemist
2 months ago

Time they says, will always tell

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Alchemist

Thank you for reading. Yes time tell the difference between filleting beauty and real substance

Amaraegbu Collins chinonso
2 months ago

This poetic reality inspired my soul.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank for perusing. I am glad it blesses a soul

Ojasope Yolanda
2 months ago

“My pine-mouth sips and swallows the spit of the almighty” – really resonated with me.
Good job, boss.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

That is the Heart the poem. Totally dependence on God. Thank you for reading through.

Uvie Agbro
2 months ago

Congratulations on your submission brother, good luck for the win!

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Uvie Agbro

Amen. Thank you for reading

Bello Micheal oluwatimileyin
2 months ago

This is a beautiful poem. I love the coming of age of the cactus despite the bustle of the forest journey, he never default

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank for reading bro. That’s what you get when you drink God, stability.

Mystery
2 months ago

This is a mind blowing an mind uplifting poet that convey –
A concise and well-structured poem that effectively uses language to portray resilience and determination
More grease to your elbow.
Shalom.
Keep moving

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Mystery

Thank you very much bro, amen. We are always becoming — blooming.

Alli Enoch Adeyemi
2 months ago

Nice poetry

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you

Morrie
2 months ago

The poem creates sense of doggedness and persistent

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Morrie

Thank you

Morrie
2 months ago

This is a great piece… Keep up the good work my brother

Ebiwanno Iretomi
2 months ago

Great work

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you 😊

OluwaDamilare
2 months ago

Hun, Divinely symbolic. Great piece 👏

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  OluwaDamilare

Thank you MOG.

Maxwell Taiwo
2 months ago

This is very down to the heart, you’re doing a good work for humanity through your niche bro

Keep soaring higher and stay blessed always.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Maxwell Taiwo

Amen. Thank you for reading bro

Adeyemo Precious
2 months ago

Captivating!

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you 😊

AL GAINAAN
2 months ago

I want to be like a stubborn cactus too, always blooming

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  AL GAINAAN

May God give us all the strength to…

Emmanuel Jesutowo
2 months ago

Reading the poem, I can only but admit that this is pure talent…more grace Boss

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you for reading through, bro.

Terngu Japhet Nyior
2 months ago

I love the imagery and the depth at which you meditated on the scripture to come up with something like this.
Kudos 👏👏👏

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank you very much for your careful reading and contribution

Olasunkanmi Ayomide
2 months ago

What a Captivating poem

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you

Deborah Paul
2 months ago

The stubborn Cactus isn’t affected by the dryness around it, because it depends on a source that never runs dry.

The poetry resonates so well with the relationship between man, nature and God(divinity).

I love it!

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Deborah Paul

When God is your source you can never run out of resources.

Ozovehe
2 months ago

good one

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Ozovehe

Thank you

Paul
2 months ago

Amazing piece

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Paul

Thank you

Destar Freeman
2 months ago

I know a wonderful poem when I see one and this, my friend, is really wonderful! 👏

“This is me—a stubborn
cactus—that wouldn’t cease blooming,
even in the thawing heat of drought
in this scorching desert.”

My favourite lines which clearly expresses the message of resilience. Well written. ✌🏿

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Destar Freeman

Wow 😲! I am very glad you love those lines. Those lines is a decision we all have to make. To remain unshakable in the face of adversity.

Thank you very much for reading and your beautiful contribution.

Jacare
2 months ago

This is inspirational… More ink to your pen brother

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Jacare

Amen 🙏

Happy
2 months ago

❤️❤️

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Happy

🥰

Adekemi Lawal
2 months ago

This a wonderful poem about resilient and stability despite the challenges. Well done our poet.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Adekemi Lawal

Thank you, I am blushing.

Yusuf Fadilullahi
2 months ago

Good poem with good imagery. I love the way make the Divine (God) so close rather than distant even in times of difficulty

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

God is closer to us than our collar bone.

Oladosu abdulquadri
2 months ago

Nice poem. Welldone bro

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you 😊

Adekoya Somefun
2 months ago

Blending the prophetic words of Isaiah with poetic mastery makes this poem such a beautiful, brilliant and irresistible masterpiece.

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank you very much. God himself is a poet and it make sense that drawing inspiration from his word will make a poem irresistible.

Adegboye Suliyat
2 months ago

This is so beautiful and memorable. Keep up the good work.

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank very much. Sure I will 😊

Ogundiji Favour
2 months ago

Beautiful and inspiring

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you for reading

Mariam oyinkansola
2 months ago

Reading this poem feel like watching a movie. Can’t get the imagery out of my head.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

A good poem lingers in memory long after reading.

Olayiwola Damilare
2 months ago

My God! who else write a something that reads like rebellion and reverence at the same time if not a poet like Olusegun Ajayi.

Swallowing the spit of the Almighty is both brilliant and risky.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

That’s the beauty of poetry, the ability to say so much with little words. To say one something and mean something else entirely different.

Thank you for reading.

Baker solia
2 months ago

“that wouldn’t cease blooming,
even in the thawing heat of drought
in this scorching desert” such faith in the face of tribulation.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Baker solia

Faith conquers all things.

Olamide Oladiran
2 months ago

This poem is beautiful. I can feel the fragility and the strength in every line. The cactus metaphor is so powerful and truly inspiring.

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago

Thank you very much for reading, I am glad it resonate with you.

Ibrahim
2 months ago

Fantastic
This is very interesting

Olusegun Ajayi
2 months ago
Reply to  Ibrahim

Thank you brotherly Dr. IB

Arogundade Awawu
2 months ago

This poem is full of hope, faith and endurance in such time like this. Well done 👏

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank you, 😊

Ibrahim Bisola Esther
2 months ago

Well-done Olusegun
Your poems are phenomenal and profound always 🥹

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank you Mummy GO

Oladosu A.S.
1 month ago

The beauty is that the source is divine.

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Oladosu A.S.

As it should be bro, God is the only source that sustains.

Afolahan
1 month ago

Wow,,, congratulations

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Afolahan

Thank you

Divine Joyz
1 month ago

Awesome

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Divine Joyz

😊

Bolarinwa John Olaposi
1 month ago

Wonderfully inked, welcome Bard

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank you 😊

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank you very much. 😊

Trust Jade
1 month ago

Highly poetical. I love the choice of words.

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Trust Jade

Thank you for reading ma.

Timi Of Africa
1 month ago

I love your creativity with amazing use of words. The metaphor used mostly made it interesting.

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Timi Of Africa

It takes creativity to recognize creativity. Thank you bard.

Esther
1 month ago

Wow this is beautiful 🤭🥰
I love it 💓

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Esther

Thank you. I am glad you love it 🥰

Ifeoluwa
1 month ago

This is profound sir..

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Ifeoluwa

Thank MOG

Favour
1 month ago

Nice poem 👍

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Favour

Thank you

Richard
1 month ago

This is really poetic, applying biblical terms makes it more beautiful.

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Richard

Thank you very much bro. The bible is spring of divine inspiration

Opeyemi Segun
1 month ago

Nice poem . It really inspire me alot

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago
Reply to  Opeyemi Segun

That’s good. The poem is doing is job really well, inspiring souls.

Dah Magnificent
1 month ago

Nice poetry my friend, more ink to your pen

Olusegun Ajayi
1 month ago

Thank you for reading. Amen 🙏