A DREAMER'S CONFESSION - EAVC 2016

I want to be smart like a bat
Hustling in the night when the rest of the world is slumbering in their flats,

I want to be insightful like an owl
Strategizing n executing intelligently until the world goes wow!

I want to be dauntless like an eagle
Exploring horizons, solving life's riddles,

I want to be zealous like a rooster
Inspiring minds with all my exciting adventures,

I want to be alluring like a peacock
Leaving permanent impressions even when the haters talk,

I want to be swift like a fly
Seizing opportunities before eternal sleep has touched the eye,

I want to be intelligent like a crow
Equipped with tools to solve puzzles that mother nature throws,

I want to be flexible like a swan
Transforming my intellect so I do not end up a pawn,

I want to be devoted like a goose
To stay on the line even when the rest are letting loose,

I want to be enduring like a Phoenix
Keeping on my heels even when earth collides with Venus,

I want to be distinguished like a falcon
Turning hills of dreams into mountains,

I want to be charismatic like a parrot
Mentally attractive and undoubtedly transparent,

I want to be artistic like a nightingale
Filling ears and hearts with compelling tales,

I want to be diligent like a bee
Striving relentlessly to build a beautiful future for me,

I want to be hopeful like a dove
Filled with optimism and a great sense of love,

I want to be lively like a butterfly
Embracing each second like the clouds embrace the sky,
I want to fly,

I want to rise,

I want to soar.

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
     ~ A. L August 2016

NJOO NYUMBANI - EAVC 2016 PERFORMANCE PIECE

Umoja ni kupendana,
Umoja si kutengana,
Si kutendana,
Si kuchukiana,

Umoja ni kushikamana,
Umoja ni kushirikiana,
Ni kusaidiana,
Kuzijenga jamii,
Ni kusikilizana,
Maagano kuyatii,

Umoja ni kuhurumiana,
Umoja ni kuthaminiana,
Si kutukanana,
Si kuchuniana,

Umoja maana yake ni kuungana,  kushiriki kwa pamoja na kuelimishana,
Kuburudishana,
Kwenye mapungufu kuvumiliana,
Katu kutojali kutofautiana,
Kutothubutu kubaguana,
Kwa rangi, ama kabila, ama jinsia,
Kwa uwezo, ama maumbile, ama kwa mazoea,

Tumeumbwa na maulana kwa dhamira,
Kila mmoja kwa upekee wake amejaaliwa,
Kipawa cha kufanya mazito, makubwa na ya kusisimua,

Tumeelekezwa kuwa na subira,
Ili pamoja tuongozane kuipata dira,
Na Hilo ndilo Wazo la busara,
Kuwa na upendo wa dhati bega kwa bega,
Kuwa na umoja imara usiolega,
Kuwa kitu kimoja, kijiji, kata, wilaya, mkoa, nchi, bara na dunia,
Kuwa na hamasa, pale tunapoonana nafsi ziwe zenye kufurahia,

Nakuita Afrika, salamu nakutolea,
Nakuita dunia,  amani nakuombea,
Nakuita Afrika, moyoni upate tulia,
Nakuita dunia, mapenzi nikumiminie,
Njoo nikukumbatie.

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
     ~ A. L August 2016

Watoto Ndiyo Taifa

Natamani kuwa na jamii yenye amani
Niione machoni
Isiishie ndotoni,
Jamii ambayo watoto wana furaha
Wakiimba na kucheza
Hadithi kusimuliana,
Mahali watakapopendwa na wazee na vijana
Mahali watakapokuwa salama,

Jitihada za maisha bora ziwe kwa watoto
Wapate urithi kwa kzazi kijacho.

Natamani kuwa na jamii watakayopendwa watoto
Isiyotumia maumivu yao
Kuzichuma mali,
Natamani kuona wakipata haki zao
Mahali tabasamu lao
Litathaminiwa kuliko dhahabu,
Wasipotumikishwa wala kufanywa kama bidhaa
Wasipotelekezwa wakaja kufa kwa njaa
Wakiwa pweke kwenye dunia,
Natamani jamii itakayo wajali
Ikawaweka mbali na vitendo vya ukatili.

Natamani kuwa na jamii watakayothaminiwa watoto
Mahali Sauti zao
Zitasikiwa na wote,
Elimu yao kupewa kipaumbele
Mahali wasipolazimishwa
Kuuvunja undugu,
Na akili zao kutopotoshwa kwa uongo
Chuki ikajaa mioyoni mwao
Wakasahau kuwa na upendo,
Natama jamii ambayo watoto wataishi bila woga
Mahali salama penye tumaini na faraja.

Watoto ni baraka kwenye maisha,
Watoto ndiyo nuru kwenye kiza,
Watoto ni tumaini, watoto ni zawadi
Watoto ndiyo taifa.

*Translated From English

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
        ~ A. L 2016
www.Zuhurasaad22.blog spot.com

MPENZI WANGU WA ENZI

Jioni usikawie
Moyo umejawa hamu
Mashaka usinitie
Maumivu ni haramu
Usinifanye nilie
Nikameza hata sumu
Fika nami nitulie
Zirudi zangu fahamu
Haki yangu nipatie
Nijihisi mwanadamu
Mlete nimsikie
Anene yake matamu
Nimeshampenda Mie
Mimi naye damudamu
Mpenzi wangu wa enzi, asilani sitomwacha.

Moyo unataka tiba
Mlete kwangu haraka
Kinada akipuliza
Roho inaliwazika
Akinena kwa mahaba
Huzidi yangu faraja
Shaka yote huniisha
Akiwa nami faragha
Napenda anapocheka
Anapenda nikideka
Jioni naomba fika
Kabla hamu haijanisha
Mpenzi wangu wa enzi, asilani sitomwacha.

Jua nenda pumzika
Muda umeshawadia
Sitaki kufedheheka
Wasiwasi kunitia
Nafsi haitoridhika
Machoni nisipomtia
Karibu ninamtaka
Kutwa namsubiria
Hapa ataliwazika
Kwa wake mahabubia
Hanjumati nitapika
Nyimbo nitamuimbia
Mimi kwake nishafika
Na kwangu keshatulia
Mpenzi wangu wa enzi, asilani sitomwacha.

(c) Zuhura Seng'enge
     ~ A. L 2016

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9a/25/0f/9a250f4c2f284631c0d2ea11a58139c9.jpg

UNDONE

You and I,
We were a story worth writing
You and I, like a fated destiny,
We found each other
Young, hungry for adventure
Watching you smile for the first time
Left a permanent mark on me
In your eyes full of promise, I saw our fairy tale
Weaving slowly before me
and when you took my hand, one by one,
the chapters started unfolding..
Every page took us closer to a happy ending
but only an ending came by
You snatched away the treasured pieces
Happiness for my heart you denied
You tainted every beautiful memory
Without the blinds of love now I can see
Vividly, the true colors that lied
behind the scenes of what we used to be.

Sweet love,
why play a cruel game on me?
Pulling me close then shoving me to the wall
Carrying me high just to let me fall
With hands that once used to embrace me
You yank my beating heart out of my chest
How fast you forget,
That it was the same heart that used to love you
used to sooth You
used to please You
used to carry your pain.
You have left me undone, my love,
Does it make you a happy man?

One step forward
One step back
Like a a horse cradle
I race against time
Two steps forward
Ten steps back
I battle with myself
Fighting the tears only to lose to my fears
No peace of mind
Always on alert
Waiting to catch you on the act
No positive thought, no hint of trust
Hoping for the best is a curse that brings the worst to life
I fight to break free only to retun back to the cage
No remedy can take off the itch, the urge
To fall off the wagon
To unleash the dragon
The heart keeps weeping even when I shut it down
No pain killer can numb it to sleep
It's a war with no chance of victory
I'm still in your blinds
Every candle I light takes me deeper into the dark
I bleed out trying to erase these marks
Scared for life.

Sweet love,
Did you have to be so sour?
Showing me the moon then banning me from space
Taking my love and throwing it back at my face
With lips that once used to heal my soul
You shut me out of your life in silence
I thought love was harmless
I thought people were treated like people regardless
Of where they were born
Of language they spoke
Of gender they possessed
Of styles they dressed,
Was I a different creature from human?
that you chose to leave me undone, dear one,
Tell me, has it made you a happier man?https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d4/2d/2c/d42d2cd41c741d9646f233bd1ce7261f.jpg

My Featured Poem

4/4/2016

Read My Poem 'Do Not Fear The Past' among these

5 incredible poems from across Africa http://www.one.org/international/blog/5-incredible-poems-from-across-africa/

A Farewell Night of Art with Keziah

My Poetry Performance with Soul Musician Jeff Mduma, at Soma Book Cafe. Saturday 02/04/2016