By Victor Emmanuel Uwah
It takes much time to much money gather,
But just a blink of the eye to scatter.
Much time will make a relationship strong,
But a careless word will make it go wrong.
Much time builds up confidence in the heart,
But a thoughtless action tears it apart.
Much time makes us love who first we did not,
But ill manner kills the love on the spot.
Much time mends a heart that had been broken,
But with love it will be captive taken.
Much time will surely turn sadness to joy,
But impatience will always joy destroy.
Much time will make us strong though we were weak,
But weakness makes us understanding and meek.
Much time brings familiarity indeed,
But familiarity will contempt breed.
Much time will build up a reputation
Which none the less will fall in temptation.
It takes much time for our spirit to grow,
But ignorance brings the spirit sorrow.
Much time heals, reforms and proves what is true:
All these and much more are what time can do.
- Victor Emmanuel Uwah, Poems From Without, 1997
