QUEST FOR LOVE
(for/to Ikpegbu Victory)

Along the long lone love lane

I trod like an ancient weak snail

Looking for that my heart desires,

Which in me often ignite frosty fires.

Many I find are full of decent deceit.

Nooks and crannies verily I visit

Yet that which I seek remains hidden.

Yes, it remains somewhere hidden

Loudly like the archangels' trumpets

My voice echoes though like a puppet's,

But all seems like trying to fetch water

In a basket. Many a time I fairly falter

Neither its gain nor pain I fully taste

Yet without a stay I, out of love, waste

All I mainly make as my strength.

I plod to every breath and length.


The hope fades away day and night

And that which I search is out of sight.

If all ends here, standing quite upright

Is that which my burning heart desires.

And not until I find it I won't retire,

Amidst hellish sun and stony rain,

I walk and work without being frail.

Some voices far away say I'll fail

And that all the efforts are in vain

And their ill-fated words will prevail

They say long time ago Love died

And anyone pursuing the dead will die.

All warnings and threat I for once defy.

Like Romeo, for the course of Love

I will spend the last pint of my blood.


Not deterred I keep the timely pace

Looking forward to either the grass or grace

For what has beginning must have an end

My time, energy and money I spend

While looking for the rarest treasure.

And I deny myself the youthful pleasure

For this some call me the best fool

Who's looking for utopian thing in the Wood.

Ah! Muse! What would I later saintly say

When rather than glory I hold a fail?

Solitarily, I traverse the the lone road.

If I don't look back mine is the gold.

Ticking-tacking is the clock, the Time

Hurries on like an athlete with the Tide.


Behold her beamed with impeccable smiles,

And there lies that which I find

Which lives in her freely without a bind

So sacred in this snared sour clime

Her breath travels many million miles

And makes those who cherish love happy

I walk towards her direction in a snappy

She is as neat as the crystal placed

In the bright sun. I move forward to embrace

The rare gem gently like a dove on a tree.

The meeting is quite above the level of glee

For her fair flawless beauty drives me.

And like a flood words from my mouth flow

For everywhere, everything is quite aglow.


"Lady", I said, "Can I make out of you a wife"?

She like an innocent child looks at me a while

"In you I found the rare seed of love I seek

Beauty, though you have, makes you meek"

When she talks, my heart warmly cheers

Offloading all fears my poisoned mind bears

"Love is designed for who knows its worth

Some run after lust and later have its wrath"

"In you, I'll build a garden of love" I replied

"And you as the vinedresser I solely rely",

Again she smiled, "The seed will grow

Although it might at first be somehow slow"

My heart knows nothing but just joy

Which ends all the tangled weary toil.


Like a mustard seed the Love seed grows

And many more people want to know

How without being noticed it like a tower rises

Even in the pessimists' all-seeing blind eyes

In her, I find hope, cares, and confidence

Some out of dolorous doubt demand evidence

For they like theirs expect some taints

Like a celebrated bard I hold a beaded bell

Jingling to air my found love, a Belle

All is full of fun-filled fair affection

Bereft of any perceived defection

And free from any lustful infection.

All these I plan to on marble write

As we are getting things right.


Timothy Faboade