Echoes of Renewal | Jessie Feyifunmi Sethdavid
Morale is high, energy contagious.
The race has just begun, the crowd audacious with echoes of the shot.
Stride after stride, on the ground you’ve claimed,
The finish ahead, your victory framed.
On adulation peak, basking in all of the glory.
Thoughts of your speech, flowers in hands, and story, revealed.
The applause fills the air, endless in your ears.
And then... boom.
It wasn’t the echoing cheers in the drums,
But jarring silence of realization’s hums: this wasn’t a sprint.
The energy drained as you collapsed,
Victory tasting hollow, like ash, blacked.
Your thoughts raced, mirrored stride, but instead of clarity, pain was the guide.
Soon, the mounted height crashed.
Uproars turned to murmurs, whispers of doubt flashed.
To lie there, consumed or to leave; in the company of shame.
Indecision drags in, intimidation to the adrift.
Another boom pierced your soul, like a cannon's blast it takes a toll—set to derail the journey you planned.
The heavy followed, silenced the whispers, kept from the wreck ahead.
A reminder of the initial shot, signal to renewal.
Those words came closer and closer until
the carrier of powerful truth came into view.
For a moment, you were safe from the thundering;
Eyes, kind and intense, seemed to pierce through your soul
as if they knew every stumble and triumph you had overcome
They offered supplies to revitalize you; stretched hands to pick you up.
A few jokes to lighten the burden, but stern words to fire
Up.
Urging you to get up and go—you were successful, and there was more.
This is not the end; it indeed couldn’t be. Others you raced were still going.
Realization settles: a marathon it always was. No need for pressure.
Just pacing within to conquer.
Each line but a new test, fanning the flames.
Each finish a pointer to a new beginning, shots re-echoed to move along.
The words now familiar, they rang true and clear.
Running with purpose, every finish a beginning.
Fueled by an endless source, eternally unyielding.
Jessie Feyifunmi Sethdavid is a writer, poet, and aspiring filmmaker whose work blends abstract storytelling with vivid imagery, inviting readers into worlds of deep imagination. Rooted in curiosity and driven by a passion for understanding how things function—both in life and in thought—he explores a range of themes, often weaving faith into his narratives while also delving into broader human experiences.
Privileged to have contributed to a couple of exhibitions, Jessie Feyifunmi’s ultimate goal is to craft pieces that allow audiences to sit, imagine, and experience new perspectives through words. Find him on Instagram @_feyifunmi.
Cover Image by Derek French