My soft breathing as I work for waiting and wait for working...

My soft breathing as I work for waiting and wait for working
The passing of time
The length of days that are not that day
The coming and going of opportunities
The ease by which they do this
Come and go
The thrill of myself and the ease of outward things
My jumping and frolicking
Their coming and going
My need to grasp and behold it all
My tantric absorbing
The ease of outward things
My dancing and prancing
My technicolored perimeter
Exploding in many directions
The coming and going of outward things
Climax, for me
Again and again, though no release
I am waiting for more
Of the khaki, navy colored bliss •

I have always been ambitious. I wanted to be a lawyer in my youth, but found lawyers to be corrupt.
I have been an artist my entire life. I have three diplomas and am waiting and working to earn two more - the final, a PhD. I have started two businesses and published two books.
But the moments when I was recovering from breaking into a million pieces; trying and finding new medications; refining my life in such a way that dirt and disorder would no longer be culprits in my life... When I was working on me, I was stalled. I had not gathered enough of myself to work or study - I could not advance in my life. All that I could do was write.

And I was miserable. Because I have always had many plans, but at the time did not have the wherewithal to embark upon them.

This was five years ago. My life has become progressively better since then. And thus I have learned, patience is key.

I could toil only a little. But I worked at it; as I became better, I could do better.

Giving up is not an option.

Give up, and what then? Life will still move forward, and you will go from 20 years old to 40 years old, having done nothing with your life because you gave up long ago.

Success is a road, not a destination; it is working and working until you meet your aim, and working and working more until you surpass your own expectations. But never stop working.

If your efforts are not paying off immediately, they will pay off later. Time will pass whether you work on your dreams or not. You might as well work. •

Poem from my book Acres of Shadow
© Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq Publishing
Follow @AishaTariqa for more daily poetry •