VIRTUES  (for Pondi Kestin)

Being noble is good and desirable
Goodness is pleasant and noble virtue
When one is good and pleasant. It’s also true
He should be praised in manner most noble.

Praise good and pleasurable experience
Shames me for I beg for it secretly
Man seeks praise deep in his dirty conscience
So he is of all creatures most greedy.

Greed is not a virtue. It is a vice
This has to be said quickly otherwise
You, my black friend, may begin to forget
Men that we are, can never be perfect.

Liberality: To give. Not to hold back
It’s opposite of greed. The liberal soul
Shall by providence and fortune be fat
This age long truth is something we all know.

Magnanimity – to help largely
Magnificence fuels the magnanimous
See what thing virtue has turned you.Famous
With your name on lips you are yet to see.

Courage means being useful in a struggle
It demands that certain laws be broken
To achieve the good of a trod people
Piling sacrifices till truths proven.

Heroism. Terrorism. Folks and strokes
Differently on where they stand each moment
The world keeps talking even till it croaks
East and west cannot come to agreement.

About nine-eleven and desert storm
The bushes being, laden with wars and strikes
Are both heroes and terrorist alike
Each seeing the other in the other form.

The wind that breaks the mighty Iroko
I will take my time, on these lines, to blend
That, your praise, all will come to know
Praise shames me giving or receiving it.

Because (I know) I secretly seek it
Yet it’s altogether honorable
And for you today, I’ll take the trouble
Such desirable virtues you possess.

Liberality. Magnanimity
Nobility. Courage (I must confess)
Gentleness. Prudence and Humility
What teacher taught you such wisdom to know?

Fortune and Providence embrace brave men
Good luck and riches awaits the prudent
The heavens smile upon the liberal soul
They all smile at you. We all understand.

Yet some may have for you a different song
That such and such you suppose to have done
But always remember. You are just man!
These lines can go on spinning with praise.

But let me reserve what’s left within
For other future occasion and place
Where they will, with much nobility, fit.