Segun Ozique

When you ask her to call or text when she’s home safe,   I ask you to pause a tad bit to let the weight of that request unravel.   For this is a she, who has walked alone through the years,   who has carved her path through storms and silence,   Who does not need your vigilance to prove her place or ability to take care of herself  She is no fragile helpless thing, not a damsel in distress.   Her independence is not a void for you to fill,   But a testament to the life over the years she has built A life where she learned to stand tall,   To navigate the world with her compass.   Yet here you are, offering care wrapped in assumption,   As if her safety were yours to oversee.   Ask yourself: how many nights and streets as she walk alone,   Unshielded, unafraid, before you came into her life?   How many thoroughfares has she conquered,   Her resolve unbrok...

Dear Val, when I say "I love you" on the 14th, Those words will rise from the depths of my soul. As my heart insists on reinforcing them in yours, Unwavering, unending, boundless. Know too, the cast may happen in a special way To freeze the words, imprinting them in a magical moment, pure, It is so so that you know, my "I love you," stays locked in your heart To linger, eternally and stay frozen in time When then the day marked so gloriously fades to silence, I’ll ask that you put back the batteries to restart the clock To let the regular love life take over as it ought,  While the 14th remains, a memorial, a lyrical song in your heart. For I am certain, in the days of the 15th and beyond, when that tune is replayed, When memories whisper it through time’s embrace, They will bring warmth, a gentle smile to your face, For in love, such magical moments committed to memory never truly fade.

Oh, those sweet thoughts of you, they come again,   Invading my mind like a gentle, whirling wind.   They carry me to places where memories bloom,   To where I meet the light to dispel my gloom.   In the ebb and flow of life’s relentless tide,   You’ve been my anchor and a constant supportive guide.   Thanks for agreeing that love isn’t measured in time,   But in moments that make the ordinary sublime.   When I asked if distance could weaken our bond,   You laughed and said, “No, our hearts are beyond space," you said.”   When I worried if you’d ever need more,   You assured me, “I’m strong, but you’re my core.”   Your words are a balm, your love a steady flame,   A beacon of hope helping a lost lover in life’s game.   You’ve shown that even in the darkest nights,   You can make available your love lamp to lead me to light. ...

Eva Ebube Okafor is what she is named,   But that is the least of her angelic qualities.   In her, you truly will find an eternal muse,   Hers is love so profound, it transforms every vibe.   She is nice, kind, and beautiful, as each letter in her name represents,   In each letter, a symphony of grace and loveliness.   E - is for her elegance, a vision so rare,    V - is for her vitality, a spark so divine,   A - is for her allure, a charm so complete,   E - again for her empathy, a heart so pure,   B - is for her brilliance, a mind so bright,   U - is for her uniqueness, one-of-a-kind,   B - again for her bravery, a survivor E - once more for her essence, her soul so free,   O - is for her optimism, hope she is working hard at K - is for her kindness, a heart warm and pure A - is for her affectionate heart; tender yet tough F - is for her faithfulness, stead...

In truth, the path to your growth is clear and bright,   Moving forward resides in you, in your might.   No outsider, affirmations, books, or spiritual creeds,   Can truly resolve challenges to meet all your needs. Ultimately, the power lies in your own hands,   To shape your life, to make your plans.   What sacrifices are required, the needed mindset shifts,   All will be set in motion when your courage lifts. If in your path peace and growth eludes your way,   Then to ask that you chat a new course needs no sway.   As the journey is yours, so too is the choice as true,   For the key to the required changes is within you.

Is your love, like an ancient tree, that stands tall,  Its roots deep-set, enduring through it all With patience like the river’s gentle flow,  Yet, like diamond overflowing with a delightful glow? Is your love, like mountain strong, yet soft as rain,  Love that sees with a heart that feels others' pain Such love, a pure gift, like sunlight’s warm embrace, Not love selfish, but for all others' grace? Such love that expects nothing, like the silent stars, Love like divine flame, guiding from afar.  Beyond the grasp of mere comprehension,  Love so vast, it defies convention. Love that is present in every act, like petals in breeze, Such love revelling in power with ease.  A beacon bright, like moonlight in the night, Guiding all through life’s intricate flight.

In all affairs, take time to play,  Let joy and laughter light your way.  For freedom, health, and grace we find,  Are treasures often taken for granted. Be grateful for each breath you take,  For every dawn, for each mistake.  When accidents and age are far,  Embrace the moments as they are. Do not let others dim your light,  With tales of fear or endless nights.  Life’s precious gift, you live but once,  So dance and sing, in 2025, and take your chance. Mistakes will come, they’re part of life,  They teach us through both joy and strife.  For freedom’s price is paid in full,  By living bold, by being whole. So cherish every fleeting day,  And let no sorrow lead astray.  For in this life, so brief and grand,  The key to joy is in your hand.