Yewande Akinse’s “The Harmony of ing and isms” is a profound exploration of selfhood, resilience, and the spiritual journey. This piece resonates deeply, capturing the universal experience of navigating through life’s complexities.

“With poetic mastery, Akinse explores the tension between moving forward ("ing") and the static beliefs or ideologies ("isms") that shape us.”

Akinse’s poetry speaks to the essence of being human—of continuously moving through personal and societal ‘isms’ while holding onto hope and grace. She invites us into an introspective journey, encouraging reflection on how we, too, are shaped by our environments and experiences. Her language is rich, her imagery evocative, and the emotional resonance of her words lingers, creating a meditative space where readers can connect with their own inner pilgrim.

The harmony of ing and isms is a project which contains five linked poems which explore a poets journey towards meaning and relevance in poetic and philosophical fashion.

I am a pilgrim
meandering through
vissicitudes
to safe harbour
through bare buccaneers
and through storm.
I am present amidst and through these
for I know
undoubtedly,
that as the calm is within
so shall my reality be, regardless.
I am a pilgrim
passing through
sunrise and twilight
through orange-red and violet
as supernova and as mundane
simultaneously.
either in faith or in doubt alike
through euphoria or misery
I know,
by passing through
I leave something of worth behind
I am a pilgrim
on this one continuous
journey unending
as I ing through
chaos, crisis
and of transcendence
the flux of isms
and through life
propelled by the mover
I know,
I am not alone.

I am not alone
amidst and through
this meander
of meaning and void.
today, I confront, self
through reflecting lens
today, I challenge
my most cherished isms
and the ideologies
through which I exist
in time
I am not alone.
for I have descended
from great ancestry.
amidst and through
a melanin clade
today, I confront, self
to interrogate and negotiate
existence and essence
through the opaque lens
of mundane striving
& being, in time
I am not alone,
this is my song of ascent
through prisms of shared descent
I exist, harmoniously
as grey and white matter
as woman and as black.
for there is a race greater than skin
and there are bonds thicker than blood.
as I meander to tell the tale
of spirit and of living
of being in and through time

of being in and through time
through the presence or absence of rhyme
amidst and through the bustle
for to be, is to strive
with the forces that be
in silence or in the assembly
in solitude or in cacophony
of cause and effect
and through order and chaos.
as when deep calls out to deep
for the emergence of the highest self
of being in and through time
the ing and isms shall always serve
as catalyst to the world order
twin unhinged wheels
rolling through quagmire
into an arrival of hope.
the ing and isms shall always serve
and as catalyst to change our world
it is great to behold how
tensions between structure and spontaneity
come undone
of being in and through time
foundational isms in flux
emerging through fire
tried and tested
in the solemn alchemy of life
a fraternity of
certainty and uncertainty
the greatest secret ever told
is this, to be is to ing
and to ing is to ism
the harmony of both, is to have lived

the harmony of both, is to have lived
through changing seasons
of essence and of existence
and of man’s awakening
to self, to highest self
motions from base to climax
of society and of self
meandering through
seeking harmony within
for to be is to seek
to be is to be meek
the harmony of both, is to have lived
knowing that the unknowns abound in plethora
in inging, questions exceed answers
and this provokes resonance
reverberating through age and time
through the presence or absence of rhyme
to find harmony
within self, within the highest self
is to have lived.
harmony of ing and isms
harmony of spirit and soul
the harmony of both, is to have lived
harmony of fate and faith
and of fight or freight
and of solemn acceptance
in knowing the ing is beyond control
harmony is the song of ascent
in bringing isms under subjection
spirit is to ing
soul is to ism
being is spirit to soul
being is ing to ism

being is ing to ism
all I seek is to be
to be ing
in the fullness of essence
& in time.
to be present
to be progressive
to be green
in being, there are isms
and belief systems
which serve to liberate or asphyxiate
being is ing to ism
careful to accommodate
that which serves
and to discard
that which does not add value to soul
careful in choosing
that which is imbibed
and to embrace
the fullness of being and ing
the meander has led me here
to an ocean of abundance and harmony
being is ing to ism
all I seek is to be
to be present and continuous
to be progressive and perpetual
to be evergreen.
being is ing to ism
the harmony of both, is to have lived
amidst and through
I am not alone.
so I add ing to my isms
to arrive at my highest self

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The Harmony of ing and isms Poem

Yewande’s gentle language and heartfelt tone offer a soothing reflection on how we can keep love thriving—repeating and evolving, yet always familiar.To read more about Yewande’s poetry visit her website on 

. Let these verses inspire you to find warmth in your own love stories this Valentine’s Day.



as pieces find each other in puzzle
my star located yours in milky way
as liquid flows freely from a nozzle
my star shines with yours today, everyday
sealed with a kiss, forever and a day
hand in hand, my heartbeat to your heartbeat
I am the one that you now so complete
this love shall be evergreen as the oak
in this lifetime and the next on repeat
our love shall be as smooth as rich kapok.



and I will spend my always loving you
for you are a gift that keeps on giving
day by day our love always feels so new
I’ll love you as long as I keep living
for you are my joy and my thanksgiving
ever blessed be the day our paths crossed
and blessed be the day our fortunes tossed
my cosmic charm and forever lover
your name on my heart, forever embossed,
your love is my rest, home and forever.



I make this vow to you with all my soul
for you alone, my true heart beats and bleeds
I give you my all, both pieces and whole
withholding nothing, love reigns, supersedes
everything, birthing, watering great seeds
precious, it can neither be bought nor sold
love is virtue, it is worth more than gold
on the day when I found you, I found life
meaning, way and warmth when seasons grow cold
I found you, I found love and found a wife.



to always show kindness do I promise:
to love fiercely, consistently, truly
in manner of speech, action, compromise
patiently as your dreams gradually
evolves in substance, strength and steadily
to build with you, life, dreams into fruition
to raise a family, have dominion.
to be your partner when in need of one
to love you without any condition
to be for you, a shoulder to lean on.

Poetry

Poetry