OPPFI Poems

Time Keeper Poem

Do to the inner workings of my chronometer which is in direct accord to the great sidereal movement my which all time is commonly recommended. I cannot say with any degree of accuracy what the correct time is. However without a fear of being grossly incorrect I estimate the time to be... Tick Tock... Tick Tock... Tick Tock (Time) Anti-meridian or Post-meridan. (Your number) seconds closer to Omega!!

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is catalyst When mixed with knowledge and wisdom It can turn small miracles If you wish to turn your hours into minutes You must renew your ENTHUSIASM, ENTHUSIASM, ENTHUSIASM

Excuses

Excuses are monuments of nothingness They build bridges to nowhere Those who use these tools of incompetence Are masters of nothingness! Therefore there are no excuses

Farewell

Farewell Big Brothers have a safe trip, Wide in the shoulders and narrow in the hips, Everybody know you don't take no Shhhhhh!!!!!

Fear

Fear is a little mind killer. That disintegrates me from inside out, I must learn to face it and control it.

Minute

I have only just a minute Only 60 seconds in it. Forced upon me can't refuse it. Didn't seek it, didn't choose it. But it's up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it. Give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny Little Minute. But an eternity is in it.

Invictus - by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

Perseverance

Perseverance is key. Without it you will die. Let your love manifest itself with courage. So that you may overcome fear.

See It Through by Edgar Albert Guest

When you're up against a trouble, Meet it squarely, face to face; Lift your chin and set your shoulders, Plant your feet and take a brace. When it's vain to try to dodge it, Do the best that you can do; You may fail, but you may conquer, See it through! Black may be the clouds about you And your future may seem grim, But don't let your nerve desert you; Keep yourself in fighting trim. If the worst is bound to happen, Spite of all that you can do, Running from it will not save you, See it through! Even hope may seem but futile, When with troubles you're beset, But remember you are facing Just what other men have met. You may fail, but fall still fighting; Don't give up, whate'er you do; Eyes front, head high to the finish. See it through!

Life - Paul Lawrence Dunbar

A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in, A minute to simle and an hour to weep in, A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double; And that is life! A crust and a corner that loves makes precious, with a smile to warm and the tears to refresh us. And joy seems sweeter when cares come after, and a moan is the finest of foils for laughter; And that is life!

A Lamp

A lamp is a lamp of knowledge It burns the oils of wisdom, It is worn on the left lapel, with its base parallel to the ground, So that the oils of wisdom do not drop nor spill, And that big brother is a lamp 360 degrees below the fly shhhhh He does the difficult immediately, And the impossible takes a little while longer For Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated.

Palms 133

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It's like precious ointment upon head that ran down upon the beard even Aaron's beard. That went down to the skirts of his garmet It's like the dew of Hermon and the dew that descended upon the mountain of Zion. For there the lord commanded the blessing, even life forever more.

Bridge Builder- By Edgar Albert Guest

An old man going a lone highway, Came, at the evening, cold and gray , To a chasm, vast, and wide, and steep, With waters rolling cold and deep. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fears for him; But he turned, when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide Old man, "said a fellow pilgrim, near" Your wasting strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again must pass this way; You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide- Why build you a bridge at eventide? The builder lifted his old gray head: Good friend, in the path I have come, he said, There followeth after me today, A youth, whose feet must pass this way, This chasm that has naught to me To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.

Courage

Courage brother, do not stumble, through your path may be dark as night, There's a star to guide the humble. Trust in God to see the light.

I Do Not Know

I hesitate to articulate for fear that I may deviate from the given course of rectitude therefore I do not know

To Artina- By Langston Hughes

I will take your heart. I will take your soul out of your body. As though I were God. I will not be satisfied with the touch of your hand nor the sweet of your lips alone I will take your heart from mine. I will take your soul. I will be God when it comes to you.

Sermons We See (Live Your Creed)- by Edgar Albert Guess

I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one any day. I'd rather one should walk with me than just to show the way; the eye is better pupil and more willing than the ear; Advice may be misleading but examples are always are always clear. And the very best of teachers are the ones who live their creeds. For to see good put into action is what everybody needs. I can soon learn to do it if you'll let me see it done. I can watch your hand in motion, but your tongue too fast may run. And the lectures you deliver may be very fine and true. But, I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do. For I may misunderstand you and the fine advice you give. But there's no misunderstanding how you act, how you live

If - by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you but make allowance for their doubting too. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting Or lied about, don't deal in lies Or being hated, don't give way to hating. Yet, don't look to good nor talk to wise. If you can dream and not make dreams your master If think and not make thoughts your aim If you can meet with triumph and disaster Treat those two imposter just the same. If you can bear to hear the truth you've the spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build'em up with worn out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on turn of pitch and toss, And lose, and never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: Hold on! If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch If neither friends nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none to much If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the earth and everything that's in it, And- which is more- you'll be a man my son!

Mother to Son - by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you life ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor-- Bare. But all the time. I'de been a-climbin' on. And reachin' landin's and turnin' corners, And sometimes goin in the dark where there aint been no light. So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps. 'Cause you find its kinder hard. Don't you fall now-- For I'se still goin honey. I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair