This poem is inspired by the photo above, which was taken in August 2020 while on holiday in Austria. DIRISHANI Aliyezoea shombo hafungui dirishakwake mnuko shobo ndiyo maisha.Roho yako sio mtumwa wa uchafuifungulie dirisha lake ya nuru takatifu.Anayekubeza kwa kauli zake uvundomwambie dirisha lako lina kali nondo.Wasifu wako bado unawaka chetezoninukisha waliomo ndani na pembezoni.Kuwa…
Today’s prompt challenges to write a poem in the form of a series of directions describing how a person should get to a particular place. It could be a real place, like your local park, or an imaginary or unreal place, like “the bottom of your heart,” or “where missing socks go.” Fill your poem…
When evening comesand duty is done,the sky comes downwith a gratitude veilto carry home,he who has completed his joband teach a lesson to those he has led;that progress at homeis not without sacrificesand whatever our deeds,the evening exposesin the going of the sunlightwhat we took for granted. We mourn him,who has joined our ancestors:our lion…
Funeral customs in Tanzania and the kanga Kanga or khanga (pl. kangas/khangas) is a printed cotton fabric worn by women in East Africa, notably Tanzania and Kenya. It has many purposes and uses, as well as meaning. Kanga can be used to convey a message subtly. For some, it is a respectful cloth. Historically, when…
Poetry is one of the most beautiful and prolific ways in which one can express themselves in any dialect. Forests are one of the natural places where many poets have gone to seek ideas, silence, and solitude. Today, we’re marking International Day of Forests and World Poetry Day. Whether you’re celebrating or mourning, I hope reading,…
Mishumaa miwili iliwaka kwa mwangaza mkubwa.Nuru yao ilisafiri kila kona ya nchi hadi magharibi.Mwangaza huo haukuruhusu kamwe kivuli cha kuingiliwa.Wenye nafasi na wasio nafasi kila mmoja aling’ara. Safari ya maendeleo ilikuwa kasi kama moshi wa volkano.Lakini jioni moja upepo wa ghafla ulizima mshumaa mmoja.Huzuni, vilio, na simanzi vilitawala ndani na nje ya mipaka.Sasa itakuwaje kwani…
On this International Women’s Day 2021, my younger sisters in poetry and myself have #choosetochallenge confidence gap, labels, biases, and limitations through spoken word poetry. The collaboration with these young women I don’t know in person but through social media is an example of how we can address the gender confidence gap. This poetry idea…
Open the door or windows,and come in, my dear January.I want to hear all about it;your journey to this new year.I have been sitting and waiting;Oh! You have brought snow and knowto cover the sounds of distractions.How you know me well by now. I looked and looked for youin the recordings of past fireworkswhere goals and resolutions…
Every heart pray we the same: I extinguish hurt in flameand bloom love in my namenow and ever a vow in frame. I aim. Note: The illustration and poem are inspired by the tropical flame tree found in my native country Tanzania. December is the month that these trees are in full blossom, giving a…
From the land of Emerald Isle, whereleprechauns and pots of gold are legends,a letter was written in neat scribbleconveying homesick and longing forthe sun, mangoes, and bustling chaos. Sent to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The mailman pitied her and deviated:bring back rays of sun from Tasmania,stop for mangoes in Brunei Darussalam,and give her the…