Wings of an Eagle MOTIVATIONAL POETRY
MQONDISI PERCY SHOZI
WINGS OF AN EAGLE MOTIVATIONAL POETRY
As braces strengthen the bones in the wings of an eagle, so should your life be strengthened by your inner peace. As eagles turn the front edges of their wings into the wind to cut through the air and move fast; so should your abilities keep you focused on your dreams. As eagles hardly work when climbing high into the air; neither should you when climbing your ladder to success. Work smarter, not harder. If your hope is in the Lord, He will renew your strength. You will soar high on wings like an eagle; you will run and not grow weary, you will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 paraphrased)
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HELLO READER, All of us have dreams in our hearts. Amazing things happen when you stop and listen to your heart and commit to taking steps to follow your dreams. In 2014, I set myself a challenge to write a poem every day. In the busyness of life this wasn’t an easy challenge to stick to. The only way to find time was to wake up at 4 or 5 am each morning and write my poems, while the world was quiet and my wife slept peacefully by my side. In those silent, reflective moments I was able to put words to the most significant things in my life – my heavenly Father, my wife and my new daughter. I was also able to reflect on issues of great significance – our identities, having visions for our futures and being intentional about how we live our lives. This is a collection of some of my favourite poems written through this process. There is something in this book for everyone. You can read this book in whatever way suits you best (scan the contents and choose poems you like, jump around, read from back to front, or you can read a poem each day and take time to reflect on how it relates to your own life). I have included reflection questions and space to write your own thoughts at the end of each chapter. Use the reflection questions as a guide, but feel free to write whatever is on your heart. I encourage you to fill in these spaces - it is your own words that will be truest to you. A few months after starting my poetry challenge and publishing my poems on my blog, a girl from China emailed me. She was going through a hard time and wanted to end her life. She searched online for words of encouragement and discovered my blog. She said my powerful words helped her through the challenges of life. And so I continued to write, for that girl in China, and everyone else like her, who need a waterfall of encouragement and motivation to get through each day and live out their destinies. For a deeper explanation about why I chose poetry as the medium to deliver my message turn to the poem called ‘Why Poetry? Why Not?’ in Chapter 12. If you are interested in reading about the younger me and where I come from turn to ‘To the Younger Me’ in Chapter 4. For a reminder about what is important in life check out ‘Is it Worth It?’ in Chapter 3. As you go through, choose your favourite poems and write them at the back of the book. These poems that speak to you are here for you to read over and over again. Use these poems to encourage yourself, to rise above your circumstances, to soar on the wings of an eagle. Enjoy, Percy
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THANK YOU. First and foremost, I would like to thank the Lord God Almighty for increasing and sustaining my faith through the process of writing this book. Secondly, I would like to thank my lovely wife who has been my everything during this process. Katie Shozi is an amazing woman who supports me in all areas of my life and who has helped edit and organise this book. I am forever grateful to her and for giving me the most beautiful baby girl I’ve ever seen in my life; Nala Joy Shozi. To all my friends who allowed me to use the pictures of their amazing paintings John O’Connell and Wendy Drake from Stairway Church in Australia (Melbourne), thank you very much. I would also like to thank all my friends, fans and family who have been reading and championing my poetry throughout the years. Thanks are also due to my friends who are published authors who took time to endorse my work; Nkandu Beltz, Luka Lesson and Hugh Evans. Thank you to Tamlin Locke from Unlocke Graphic Design for the design of this book. And thank you to my readers - those who have bought one of my books, or subscribed to my poetry blog - knowing my writing is read all around the world is so incredibly encouraging!
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CONTENTS Chapter One: Lifetime Love for Family Welcome Home Nala . . . . . . . .9 Farewell Daddy . . . . . . . . . . .11 The Power of Us and We . . . . . .11 A Place Called Home . . . . . . . .12 A Miracle in Her . . . . . . . . . . 13 Dear Uncle David and Aunty Jo . .14 As You Become . . . . . . . . . . .14 Tsunami Love . . . . . . . . . . . .15 The Baby is Coming . . . . . . . . 16 Baby Shower . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Happy Holidays . . . . . . . . . . .17 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 18
To The Younger Me . . . . . . . . 39 Know Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . 39 You are Awesome . . . . . . . . . .40 Racing in the Rain . . . . . . . . .40 Divine Expectations . . . . . . . .41 True Identity . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Attacked For My Value . . . . . . .42 The Misfit . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 43 Chapter Five: Intentional Living Reserved Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Password for Peace . . . . . . . . .47 Community . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Find Your Passion . . . . . . . . . 48 New Beginnings . . . . . . . . . . 49 A Reason for the Season . . . . . .49 Before You Turn Grey . . . . . . . 50 When Men Fall Short . . . . . . . 51 Digging Deeper . . . . . . . . . . .51 Find Your Happy Place . . . . . . .52 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 53
Chapter Two: Finding Faith Stairway Make My Way . . . . . . 21 Hold My Hand . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Rooted Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Faith Without Borders . . . . . . .24 In Between Moments . . . . . . . 24 One Voyage of Discovery . . . . . 25 Hidden Treasures . . . . . . . . . .25 Better Than Santa . . . . . . . . .26 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 27
Chapter Six: The Sound of my People African Queen . . . . . . . . . . . 56 The Sound of my People . . . . . .57 Short-changed Lives . . . . . . . .57 African Wings . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Across The Seas . . . . . . . . . . 59 There is a Reason . . . . . . . . . 59 Sweet, Sweet Sound . . . . . . . . 60 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 61
Chapter Three: Free Your Soul . Waving Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Fully Forgiven . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The Lost Forest . . . . . . . . . . .31 Endless Wave . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Free Indeed . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Grace Granted . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Chains are Broken . . . . . . .33 Put It Away . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Is It Worth It? . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Find Freedom in Laughter . . . . .34 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 35
Chapter Seven: I Love Loving You Two Waves . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 The Power of the Pair . . . . . . . 65 Sing Swing Paddle . . . . . . . . .65 Amazing Love . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Tying the Knot . . . . . . . . . . .67 Love is Easy . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Frozen Rain . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Friends For Life . . . . . . . . . . .69
Chapter Four: Kings and Queens Within Chosen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 I am Destiny’s Child . . . . . . . .38
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Apple of My Eye . . . . . . . . . . 69 Blue Sky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Ray of Sunshine . . . . . . . . . . 70 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . .71
I See an Open Door . . . . . . . . 104 Hello Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Go Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Make a U Turn . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Reel It In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Lead with Speed . . . . . . . . . . 107 Central to your Core . . . . . . . .108 DOn’t QuIT . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 109
Chapter Eight: Take Joy in my Worship Freely Falling . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Co-Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Beholding Him . . . . . . . . . . .76 Sunday Morning . . . . . . . . . .77 Imagine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Perfect Peace . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Living Water . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Keep Your Praise Up . . . . . . . .79 Higher Heights . . . . . . . . . . .79 Fill Up Your Void . . . . . . . . . .80 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 81
Chapter Twelve: The Art in Your Heart I Am His Band . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Lost Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Dancing in the Storm . . . . . . . 113 The Art of Algebra . . . . . . . . .114 The Pen of a Ready Writer . . . . .114 Musically Inclined . . . . . . . . .115 Why Poetry? Why Not? . . . . . . 116 A Song Called Life . . . . . . . . .117 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 118
Chapter Nine: Inspiration from the Animal Kingdom A Wise Old Owl . . . . . . . . . . .84 Be Like a Bee . . . . . . . . . . . .85 The Elephant and the Mouse . . .86 The Horse and the Wagon . . . . .86 The Lion in a Cage . . . . . . . . .87 Walking with the Dove . . . . . . .88 The Power of a Paradigm Shift . . 89 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 90
Chapter Thirteen: My Daily Psalm The Sound of a Waterfall . . . . . 121 Seashore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Fortify My Courage . . . . . . . . .123 A Shield Around Me . . . . . . . .123 Supernatural Love . . . . . . . . .124 Swinging Skyward . . . . . . . . .124 Silence and Passion . . . . . . . . 125 Psalm 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . .127
Chapter Ten: Let there be Light Lighthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 Light the Lamp . . . . . . . . . . .95 Old Material in New Light . . . . .96 Daylight Saving . . . . . . . . . . 96 Symbolism . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Personal Reflection . . . . . . . . 99
Favourite Poems . . . . . . . . .129 About The Author . . . . . . . .131
Chapter Eleven: A Clear Vision . Fire Fighter . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Greater Energy . . . . . . . . . . .103
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CHAPTER ONE
LIFETIME LOVE FOR FAMILY
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WELCOME HOME NALA At one o’clock your mum and I were just sleeping, Out of comfort she suddenly started screaming, We quickly ran the bath then rang emergency, Flew all the way to the hospital out of urgency.
We’re still amazed by your gorgeous face, Your beauty surely brightens this place. Yes daddy cut your umbilical cord, You can put that on your storyboard, Your life will be filled with success, You clearly have no time to digress. We’re so excited as you’re finally home with us, If you ask me, you’re already doing fantabulous, It’s an amazingly perfect family we form, That’s why I proudly say, “Welcome home”.
We quickly rushed through the door, We then used the first bed we saw, The room was crowded in a second, We nearly arrived late they reckoned. After a fully intense 10 minutes you were born, We were so relieved as the crazy pain was gone,
Welcome Home Nala
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FAREWELL DADDY Father why did you have to leave me? You were the hope I needed in my life, If you were here, life would be different I guarantee, But now all I am left with is strife.
You loved me regardless of what I did, You supported me in all that I chose, Your deepest, innermost feelings you hid, When we’ll meet again, nobody really knows.
My family is always missing you, You bragged about your children’s grades, Loving and warm, is what you used to do, Without you, we’re only left with our shades.
You left some of your family behind, Until we meet again, you’ll always be on my mind. Farewell Daddy
THE POWER OF US AND WE The power of us and we, Over the power of I and me, This one is for you and me, We can be anything we want to be.
Both of us have to give up some ground or the thing won’t work, It’s not about I and me, It’s about us and we, We are going to make this life work.
This applies to anything in life, Common unity makes a strong community, If you think of yourself less and more of others you’ll live a happy life, The power is not just in you it’s in unity.
That is the power of us and we, over the power of I and me.
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