Should misery come, it will not claim me.
By: Mahalia
Should misery come, should sorrow overtake, should confusion entrench, should anguish reign,
I will not buckle.
I will not succumb prey.
I will not bequeath the last breath of hope that courses through my veins.
I will swim the floods of despair.
I will survive the depression that storms over me.
I will live.
I will survive.
Though the rains keep falling. Though the clouds dim. Though the lights fade away. Though the evil that lurks in the corners unsheathes its claw ready to steal, to kill and to destroy,
my confidence endures.
I will not succumb prey.
I will not bequeath the last breath of faith that gathers strength in my being.
I will survive.
I will live.
I will battle to live.
Many a day will come where these moments are mere memories.
Many a night will come where the memories will remind of the many who struggled to survive.
Many will be these times.
If not now, in the future.
If not today, tomorrow.
The sun will set today with an anticipation of the approaching silver lining.
Though dark be the night, and the gloomy day be long, there is hope..
I will live.
I will battle.
I will survive.
In this present misery, I raise my voice.
Though drowning in the many voices of chaos.
Though stifled my men who would use my pain for profit.
Though smothered by the throngs in the same need of sustenance.
Though assailed by motives of men for their own pomp.
Though despondency devices against my hope.
I will live.
I will battle.
I will climb the raft that rescues me.
I will survive.
Today, I see my life in pictures.
Images of many in me.
Filthy rags that were once glorious robes.
Muck that was once paved to prosperity.
Mud that was once a befitting of a home.
I see a likeness of once a life; breathing, living, completing the cog in the machinery of life.
But they are just images now.
The machine is silent.
There is no whir, no stir, no sound, only the slow whooshing of the tides.
Uncertain if it will swell or subside.
An uncertainty that mimics the slow clicking of my days ahead.
Should misery come, it will not claim me.
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mahalia is is a mom of three, devoted wife and is still traversing life as an immigrant. She blogs at Chocolateword and is currently an apprentice at a Christian Writer’s Guild. Currently based in the US, Mahalia is currently taking Creative Writing at UCLA.
Wahahaha, nawalan ng comments, eto po ang tissue o, ako rin na nonosebleed! LOL!
salamat po sa mga nag-comment. this is written to those who survived the flood, to those who lost their lives, to those who volunteered, left the comfort of their homes to rescue others. Kayo po ang inspiration ng sulating ito. Mabuhay po kayo.
it’s very nicely written mahalia, parang gusto kong lagyan nang music na Ave Maria ni Beyonce hehehehe para matindi ang effect!
busy pa kasi everyone sa miss charity
peborit mo talaga Reynz yung kanta ni Beyonce, gusto mo ba ng interpretive dance matching the song? hehehe.
busy nga rin ako sa miss charity, sana dumami pa.
Should misery come, it will not claim me.
loves it. thanks for a very inspiring poem mahalia.
thanks Malen, mga inspiring stories and people that I read through the blogs and news, like yours made me realize that malakas talaga ang survival mechanism ng mga Pinoy. Kasama na sa buhay Pinoy. Biruin mo 2 hours kang nag-lakad sa baha. Wow! kayo po ang inspiring sa aming mga nakikibasa lang sa mga first hand experience ninyo.
The Christ in us, ready to arise anytime from the tomb, ready to claim that even if death and pain may appear real before our eyes, it is not the last scene, the ultimate caution, the absolute ruler…Thanks Mahalia for this poignant poem…
Yes, He is alive in us, kaya nga in times of fear, faith at grace of God lang talaga ang nag-push sa ating mag-survive. It’s this strong resolution to live that is a Filipino Virtue na makikita natin kahit anong catastrophe, maging mand-made man ito o nature-born.
Ay, I like this!
And I would like to tell everyone na if anyone is telling you that he or she is in crisis, remind them no, we should never be because we are in Christ!
We all can easily accept our defeat. Kasi we live in the present and we are unable to see our future. But a resolute hope that we’ll be okay propels us to the right actions. We should always remind ourselves the famous line ni Scarlet O’Hara sa Gone with the Wind “Tomorrow is another day!”
bangon pinoy, BANGON!
Sulong Pinoy, Sulong!
I love this. Just what we need in these challenging times. Pinoys are resilient, we’ll all get through this together.
You are right in using the word resilient. Kahit saan mo isabak ang Pinoy, kakayanin nya yan. Maging nasa sariling bansa siya o kaya sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo. Amazing how we carry this virtue kahit anong edad at anong lokasyon natin. Mabuhay ang Pinoy!
truly inspiring Mahalia at a time everyone needs a glimmer of hope….. Indeed, all this will come to pass……..
And when it comes to pass, the Filipinos will add to their arsenal the life principles and virtues this tragedy brought.
kaya natin to.. para saan pa at tinawag tayong Pinoy.
I am proud to be Pinoy. I am proud to be a member of B7. Pinoy is a word that no one else in the world will understand. It’s a secret code word for resilience (like Amor said), for loyalty and for charitable virtue to help our fellowmen.
No amount of words no matter how wise can take away the pain of those grieving. Grief is a personal thing. I pray for their strength and will power to overcome the obstacles of this tragedy.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I quoted your article title on my fb.
Looking forward to more inspirational articles from you.
Gob bless us and more power!
Grief no matter how many words, nor how many books explained it, they will not suffice at describing a deeply suffering soul. I think God placed an indescribable emotion as grief to mirror how He feels when we choose to separate from Him. Thanks for giving me insight into this emotion.
Thank you rin for quoting this sa FB. sana ay marami pang matulungan itong tulang ito.