Quest

When the world has stopped
I lean
On the thick trunk
Of my think tree
And wonder

Where is harmony?
My roving eye searches the horizon
Of the rose-tinged dusky sky
Of its elusive rays, penetrating canopy

Vision,
Are you buried with the far-reaching roots
That trace back to medicine lineages
Forever lost to contemporary generations?

And you, peace
Why do you play hide-and-seek?
Whistling through the bamboo
Like the cool evening breeze
That deceptively caresses the face
Oh so close… but gone, in the blink of an eye

Reveal yourselves
For it is in earnest
That I seek

Standing by my book shelf

Lost in books, late again

Standing by my book shelf

Thumbing through pages

Rereading favourite excerpts

Fancifully hoping for a book getaway

Far from the ugliness of the world

Reminded others saw worse

So that i can stand tall today

Incredible beacons of courage

In the vile face of hatred, abuse, exclusion

They transformed it into stories of triumph

Into poetry i hold close to my heart

To sojourn through another test

A test of humanity, of truth, of justice

I stand by my book shelf

Musing how millions of words 

Give meaning to my life.

You

You with the sunshine style
You with the big heart
You with the sweet spirit
You with the beautiful smile
You with the spicy twist
You with the boundless warmth

Mpendwa

Akipita, akipunga

Upepo kamwona Bahari

Samawati, alipendeza

Naye Bahari ‘kampenda Upepo kwa uzuri alioleta

Furaha ilimjaa na kumsukuma upwani

Sabalkheri. Naomba ukae nami, Mpendwa

Uwe Malkia wangu

Ilhali Upepo alikuwa mwenye mwendo mara yote

Upepo alimzunguka Bahari, akambusu, akanena:

Meli yaelea juu yako,

dau yatabaradi  juu yako

Hio hali yao, wewe husongi!

Nikiondoka, samaki wataendapi? Bahari akauliza kwa mshangao mkuu!

Naye Upepo akamjibu: Nikitua, ulimwengu utasongaje?

Laazizi, ulinipendea mie uzuri wangu,

ndio mimi huyu, hamna namna ingine… 

Comandante!

I've met some people along my life who've left a lasting impression. They've inspired me in the fine way they take on situations and they've made me laugh through their witty observations of life. Most importantly, they mastered early on the importance of taking charge of their own personal lives in order to succeed.

Now success is relative, it is not limited to always winning in the external things. The greatest battle is in conquering the weak and faulty parts of us that make us less human. Unfortunately, this critical aspect of success is misunderstood a lot today, especially by extremists.

The success of being human is thankfully not tied to the material resources at one's disposal. It begins with a mindset. An attitude that dares to still embrace humanity even when the rest of the world mocks you. It is the courage to live right even when the world is primarily one big billboard that screams: "The end justifies the means!" "Grab what you can for yourself!" "Be bigoted!" "Kindness has no place in the modern rat race!" "Destroy!" "Gain the world!"…and forever lose yourself. 

Don't be deceived. The world is hurting. You can feel the pain that Warsan Shire speaks of:

A hurting world is made up of broken people. People who have given up hope and decided to match despair for despair and cruelty for cruelty. Quite the blind and toothless world…

The blueprint for taking charge of one's life is looking inwards in order to rise above all these gravely misleading voices. When you understand yourself, with all your flaws, then you become comfortable in your skin, then you are able to see the world with the scales fallen from your eyes, then you are able to be human…giving fully your authentic contribution.

Dissolve

Like sugar in tea

Like a leaf of mint immersed

Like the blending of flavours

Let you be...

Lovebow

I wanted to write you a poem
It was complete, in the space

But the words...
just when i sought to put them down
Danced merrily away

Musical, chiming as i drew closer again
They rejoiced, like the gentle rain
filling the earth...and my heart

The lyrics surrounded me, buoyed me 
and with a happy tinkling! struck a clear chord

They were not letters to be jotted
they were a feeling.

Wisdom

I take the word   
I salute you
Women and men
As I seek to heal

I will capture
The colour, the light
The soul of the world
And to violence
I say no
I am the Queen
I say so

Leaves fall
People talk
Colonialism
Upon Capitalism
Upon Fatalism

But I give you the colour
The colour of light
Upon the path
Planet Earth

To you
I take the word

I salute you
Women and men
As I seek to heal