Life's Voyage: Childhood & Adolescence

By A. C. E. Otakpor

A gift to humanity for education empowerment in the form of poetry for children and teenagers. Consisting of fifty original poems and illustrations, this chapbook draws to light the experiences of how life is viewed from an artistic and creative point.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. C. E. Otakpor
• Release date: Sep 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9780996814409

A. C. E. Otakpor

A C. E. Otakpor began writing at age fifteen. He attended California Coast University, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. He also received an MBA with specialization in Human Resource Management from the same University. A C. E. Otakpor is currently a PhD candidate in Public Health with specialization in Epidemiology at Capella University. He has written numerous screenplays for both Hollywood & Nollywood. He has also edited and reviewed several publications and articles such as the “O” series, “Xpressive Journals by R.E.O” and “Man of the Year”Editorial among others.A C. E. Otakpor is an advocate for peace and economic stability in countries battling with poverty and malnutrition. He has a passion for poetry. He loves to give hope to the less privileged. A C. E. Otakpor is a supporter of education, and education empowerment worldwide. He is also a mentor to Inspired Youths in the Middle East & Africa. When this extraordinary and compassionate author is not writing or changing the world, he spends his free time with family, coaching soccer, reading, travelling, and watching soccer.

Book preview

Stage One: Childhood

As I watch you play

We sit outside - under the willow tree, winter on its way through the rustling leaves,

Your laughter echoes through the passages of my heart,

The wispy locks of hair briskly touching your face.

As you swing to and fro on the swing - made just for you,

I wonder how I will protect you from all the harm the world holds.

How will I make your mind see only the good and keep astray from the bad?

You will one day carry forth the family name

And get a wife whom you will protect.

From all that the world holds, you must protect.

It is my duty to see you fit, make you the best boy you can be,

For all you now see is the swing set and the tree.

But I see much more than just that,

I see the hardship you will face

When you are just a little more of age.

You will one day understand, why I keep holding your hand.

All you need to know now, is that I will protect you no matter what.

Although I did not get this care as I grew up,

I will not let you go through what I had to.

Just to see the world for what it really is,

My child, all you need to see

Is the swing set and the tree.

Bath time

All day we were outside to play, play games we always play

All day we were at play, play all that kids play

We don’t count the hours of the day

We just play each and every day.

Dirt we make our best friends

We sing and we dance in the dirt with our best friends

Our clothes get caked in mud

We make cakes for our parents with this brown mud.

If our parents beacon us inside to take our bath

We beg just five more minutes before we bath

Another stern look from mother

And we know we must come before she calls father.

In the bath she will ask, now what did you do today; look at your dirty hands!

We played mother, we played with our hands!

What did you do today mother, what did you do today?

I went to work child, like I do every day.

Why don’t you join us in our games?

We can play the ones you will love, the great games!

Mother sighs and said that she wish she could

We wish she would but she never could.

Why mother, do you not want to play with us?

My child, who else will then provide food for us?

One day my child, you will understand

All you have to do is play the games you do, understand?

Butterfly effect

Crawling among the summer weeds, a little worm wriggling, squirming.

Green little beast, helpless to the big birds at prey.

Taste leafy sweetness, making that body more firming,

Living from today to today.

For my child, that is just like you