“Against All Odds” A Poem by Andrea Sandra Delali Gakpe
Odds! Odds!! Odds!!!
The odds strike me from every angle,
From false friends and pretenders who masqueraded as guides,
Striking me repeatedly, leaving my heart torn.
Still, my heart resists the odds.
Stanza 2
A loud voice shook me up, loud and clear;
In my ears, it echoed, “Rise up! All odds are against you!
Shake off emotions, bury tears.”
But I’m confused – what are these odds I fear?
I hear only laughter and see only love.
Stanza 3
Little did I know, wolves in sheep’s clothing
Came as loved ones, parents so dear,
Masked with smiles, laughter, and care,
Yet beneath, bad wishes, bad luck, and doom prevail.
Stanza 4
I stood tall, alone in the fight,
Against the world, with all its might.
Fears of failure, shame, and defeat
Tried to bring me to my knees, to beat.
Stanza 5
But determination was my guiding light,
My walking stick through the darkest night.
The odds attacked, left, right, and centre,
But still I rose, no surrender.
Stanza 6
The rejected stone became the key to victory,
Which rolled in like the sea.
And on its shores, my triumph would be.
Today, I stand, unbroken and free.
A warrior worn, but still I see
The beauty in the battle I’ve faced,
A strength forged in the fire of every place,
I rose above the wolves’ disguise.
And found my voice, my heart’s surprise.
No longer held by fear or shame,
I wear my scars and claim my name.
My story woven, a tapestry so grand,
A testament to the strength I’ve stood strong.
Written by: Andrea Sandra Gakpe (Dherl) 2024