REFLECTIVE: "THE WORKOUT" BY MAURICE N CHIADZWA

He sat up in his bed, in the lamp's glow

He cleared his throat and said, "You know,"

All great men know and understand 

That on our knees, comes the strength to stand

That is where all stories are written first

Before they come to be experienced by the rest

That's where ideas of yesterday 

Became the hard substances we enjoy today

It's a life of sustaining environment 

A well of sustenance without an end

It's where the wave of despair is turned into hope

And where impossibilities are told to stop

It's where what wasn't is given a foundation 

And the ideas that linger in the air are turned into creation 

This is where men are made and shaped

This is where paths are drawn and mapped

This is where life in its abundance is poured

 You thought I was a fighter all my life even as it sets

But my workout was always in my prayer closet

And all great men know and understand 

That on our knees, comes the strength to stand"

He fell back into his bed, facing away from the lamp's glow 

And I sat there thinking, "Now I know"

© MAURICE N CHIADZWA

-Zimbabwe

"The Workout" by Maurice N Chiadzwa is a reflective poem that emphasizes the power of prayer and introspection as a source of strength and resilience. Through the metaphor of a "workout" in a "prayer closet," the speaker illustrates how spiritual discipline and humility serve as foundational elements for personal growth and achievement. The poem suggests that true strength is cultivated in moments of vulnerability, where despair is transformed into hope and abstract ideas are solidified into tangible realities. The imagery of kneeling evokes a sense of reverence and dedication, highlighting the importance of inner work in shaping one's character and destiny. Ultimately, the poem conveys a profound understanding that external success is often rooted in the quiet, unseen struggles of faith and reflection.