“Against All Odds” A Poem by Andrea Sandra Delali Gakpe
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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