I walk, I learn, I run.
I dream, I write, I lament.
I lose, I wait, I stagger.
I listen.
I leave, I cry.
I put down my thoughts
I create, these fruits of my failures
I turn back and regret
And reach out to empty
I breathe, the dying gasps of love
I aim to please but please don’t try
The sky is the limit, beyond my reach
I write my truth, my simple words
I write in blood, my fears laid bare
The guns have stopped
The silence echoes their deadly intent
The child with a broken body,
Won’t stop screaming
Blood scorches his back
The bloody rivers that rush down hill
To cleanse him of his father’s sins
The guns have stopped
Africa’s wailing voice
The only sound heard from space
Broken houses, shattered pelvics
The future of Africa rebuilt on Rwandan skulls
Grasses made of human hair, ochre paste made from blood
The Savannah is silent with groans of pain
The guns have stopped
The desert people use the stars to mark their paths
They hide in bunkers, where stars don’t shine
They twinkle hopefully,
In the empty deserts of Libya
The desert people are blind to their paths
The guns have stopped
The earth’s belly is full, fed on Africa’s flesh
The limbs of Nigeria
The indignity of Somalia
The mad eyes of Cote d’Ivoire
The weary feet of Uganda
The bowed backs of Kenya
The earth is full, it burps
Its spew out the oil, the colour of rage
It vomits diamonds, dead irises staring
The guns have stopped
My friend’s yearning eyes look at the sky
She dreams of her land, her home
She imagines the feel of her soil, the scent of her Africa
Closes her eyes and feel the sunlight of Zimbabwe
She licks the tears and tastes the rain from Harare
The guns have stopped
The rain is finally falling
Heavy clouds, carrying the hopes of a million flesh robots
It’s finally raining
We hold our arms wide open, faces upturned
And receive grenades of blessings
Africa is rejoicing
Africa is free
Listening to the wind
Swirling around my frozen face
My ears strain for the last beat
But the fury of the rain hides your call
Dry lips breathe your name
Sound of fading footsteps in the distance
The last word
A trail of misconceptions
Burning through my soul
The final word
A sword
Tearing through the sweet membranes
Of our memories
Poison words
I hear their breathing
Heaving chest pressed on my palms
I feel them beckoning
Soothing words
Mesmerized with their sweet offerings
Held captive
They scream their demands
Holding my heart for ransom
Chaining me with my desires
I must pay the ultimate prize
A prisoner of my fears
Simple words
I seek my freedom
I seek to dance
Like a paintbrush on the canvas
Of your love
I seek acceptance
A whisper of joy
Sweet words
Tribute to my Late Grandmother- Madam
I see blood,
And rivers of wasted tears
The sun’s blinding rays, on these soulless eyes
I see her last breath,
As they lay her to rest
Unformed words, caught in the winter gale
I see the spirit
Of her former self
A sigh of relief, the chains have been released
I see the past,
A smoky mist fading in the west
Bleeding feet, rocky paths, thorny leaves
I see the road, a worn out path
Ghosts of my ancestors, plodding through
I see a blinding smile,
Her face at peace, embracing her demise
I see dreams, floating around
Wrapped in hope’s rainbow ribbons
I see victory, the scent of the rain
Cleansing through my deepest fears
I see me,
My head held high
Swaying to the earth’s song
I hear her whisper
Awake my child,
It’s the beginning of a new dawn
Stood there with your half-smile.
Sitting on the bed, packing your bags.
Looking at me with those cool eyes,
A shirt here, a sock there.
Leaning your fine frame against the door,
Tied in with the pieces of my life
One foot already through the next open door
I pack the lies, folded with the ties
Carelessly caressing your jaw
In this corner a toothbrush, boxed in with the promises
Feeling like you’re stroking my skin
I pack away the time it took me to believe,
Giving me that sexy side eye.
Under the sweater that warmed my heart
Your lips moving, my heart clinging on every word.
I see the time it took you to deceive
I’m caught staring at their soft curve
In the threads of your favourite shirt
Almost imagine their smooth feel
All the traces of our love, neatly folded
But those lips deliver fatal blows;
All that was us, heaped in a stack
Said with lightness, it’s like a summer breeze.
Packed tightly, like all your sleaze
Your attitude is cool, like we’re talking the weather.
Shed off the baggage, it’s time to fly
Days turn into weeks, months rush to years
Suddenly too many years have passed
Too many words left unsaid
Now we’re two strangers with a past
Once a vital extension of me
Endless conversations turned into awkward silences
Barely able to string two sentences
You built a home in my heart
Slowly dug a hole and made your roots
A special place, your own space
Hours upon hours building dreams
There was no tear you couldn’t dry
Not a problem you couldn’t help me carry
Tireless in your love for me
There were no words to describe what we felt
No words are needed
No one can match the shape of your eyes, the turn of your smile
No one can say the right words, bring out the right laugh
Through your love I learned to love myself, the beauty of my heart
Through your encouragement I learned to believe myself, I saw my worth
I mourn the years of memories
The loss of my sounding board, my confidant
I weep for years of lost laughter
The miles of unspent moments
The person who gave me tough love when I needed it
My adviser, my shoulder to lean on, my no.1 fan…
My best friend
BOOM!!
Bodies flying,
Blurred visions,
Broken walls,
Screams,
Loud screams of fear, pain and anger.
Choking on thick smoke,
Words swallowed in fear.
Meet Kush Gathu, my friend and honorary small bro. I love his writing and I’ve been trying to get him to share his stuff for a while, but since he’s reluctant I’ve decided to throw him in the deep end. 🙂 Sometimes all we need is a friend to nudge (all right this was more of a shove) us in the right direction…
Below is a sample of his stuff. Enjoy.
Promise to my unborn…
I know it’s kind of weird somewhat sort of strange,
But I’m sure I’m very sober and not at all deranged,
I’m making a promise to you at such a tender age
And I’m doing this now coz I’m indescribably enraged.
I promise to be there for you from the moment you exist
And all the undesirable things I’ll be doing I promise to desist,
I’ll take you to the best schools so no living thing can take for a fool,
Buy you the best attire so to your peers you’ll be looking cool,
I promise to learn what you hope for and what you fear,
Teach you the ways of the world so everything is clear
And if you ever need to talk daddy will always be near,
To hold you, embrace you and forever to lend his listening ear.
I’ll take note of what you like, what you don’t and what you might,
Be a guiding light in the day and darkest nights.
I promise never to criticize, demoralize or victimize you,
Nurture your mind and spirit to be civilized too
Coz you are me and I am you and for eons we both shall be….
I promise
She is
She is the most beautiful being I’ve ever seen,
To grace her presence makes me feel like a king,
She may not know this but for her I would kill,
And if I was to lose her I can’t begin to imagine the anguish I would feel.
She is more than just your average woman, more of a deity but still very human,
When she speaks her beautiful voice soothes my sadness
And when she’s sad her crystal tears fuel my madness.
Her tender touch is infinitely unmatched; she would soften any iron clad heart.
She is my source of strength, power and inspiration;
Joy, peace, love and motivation.
So I take this opportunity to make this declaration,
That I love you mama and I will be here for you regardless of the situation….
Mr. President
Excuse me Mr. President,
I am a hard-working resident,
You can tell from the lines on my face it’s quite evident,
I wanna express what I feel and I got some evidence.
I work hard toil for hours on end,
While your cronies fatten off my blood and sweat,
Insecurity is everywhere it’s a business that’s booming,
I try to smile but my face is so gloomy,
I just need you to explain something to me,
And don’t play games just answer me fully.
Why do I have to pay for your house and your car,
Your trips overseas and the drinks in your bar,
The fuel in your jet and your visits to the spa?
Please Mr. President make me understand
At least then maybe I won’t be so mad.
You and your friends with 6 foot bodyguards,
While we’re in the hood with 16 body bags.
Try and make me understand;
I feed you, clothe you, take you on trips to expensive hotels,
Buy you state of the art cars and even fuel them for you,
Pay for your entertainment, gym and spa
And last but definitely not least pay for highly trained security
While I live a life plagued by poverty, disease and unending insecurity.
I respect you Mr. President, but I just need to understand
Why don’t you ever return the Favours??
Dear God,
It’s me again
I’ve called out to You many times
I’ve sent my problems Your way
Sometimes it seems I’m always whining.
My prayers to You have been various
Sometimes selfish, sometimes mundane
But this time God, I have a special request
This time I ask for You.
Dear God,
I feel empty
I’ve walked many streets
I’ve met many people
I have laughed, cried, loved and despaired
I have found pleasure and deep sadness in this world
But despite being around people, I fee alone.
Like I’m caught in a circle of icy vacuum
No one can pierce through to touch me
No matter how much they care, how much they reach out
I now know it’s only You who can fill this void.
Dear God,
I need you
I’m tired of crying alone in the dark
The only time I can dare show my shame
Drowning me in bitter regret
Helpless and lost
I seek reassurance, comfort, solace.
Dear God,
I’m on my knees
I’m insignificant without You
I submit myself to Your will, my Lord
I beg you to hear my call
Hold my hand and guide me
Committing me to Your cause
Dear Lord, hear my prayer
