When i look back to my Baby steps when i began writing,two people really stand out in my walk.
Thats Dr.Josephine Ohas and Mwalimu,actor,thespian and director....Dr.David Mulwa.
Others i can never forget is Kingwa kamencu,May gladys Mwakitele,Imelda ,Roba ,ochi and my beloved writers from The kwani team.
First I thank Ohas for discovering me when still in Lugulu Girls,when in the evening she would read through my poems...it build me.
I also thank mwalimu Mulwa,for his support and guidance in my ALT 206 class...when struggling with prosaic poems and the many one act plays....
its made me whom i am today.
I may not be perfect but i know i will one day be,and as for that,day by day..i keep on writing and sharing my creative ideas with the rest of the world!
Hope u enjoy my piece of work.
“Memories of chemare………..”
An Anthology of poetry ,
By
June 2007.
I
Declaration
This creative project is my original work to the best of my knowledge and it has not been presented for accord of degree in any university.
Signature………………………………………. Date……………………………….
Name:
Reg: E35/0647/03
Student
This project has been submitted for Alt 418 examination with my approval as the supervisor of the student.
Signature……………………………… Date……………………………….
Prof.Francis Imbuga
Supervisor
II
Dedication
For my loving and caring parents Oscar p.kipkemboi and Mary Kipkemboi.
III
Acknowledgement
To all that helped me nurture my writing skills, to all that dedicated their time to see me grow, and to all that held my hand when I had given up to write I say thank you.
To David Mulwa, who held my hand when I joined the creative class in second year and helped me begin my baby steps.
To Prof.Francis Imbuga, who supervised my project and severally guided my tender steps towards perfection
To the Alt 418 class, Boke Rubby, Benja, Betty, Wachira and Ngirachu, who critiqued my work
To my loving Friends MayGladys,Damacrine,Annemuasa,Judy chebet,Caro kako,Joyce chepkoech Imelda, Peter ndunda,Linda oruko and Dr.chet creider and Jane creider.
Lastly I would like to thank my parents for their numerous support towards my project.
Table contents
Title I
Declaration II
Dedication III
Acknowledgement IV
Table of Contents V and VI
Cindy 1
Who will? 2
Memories of Chemare 3
The swimming pool 4
Loved one 5
I beg of you 6
The shy one 7
Grandmother said….. 8
If I could 9
In the valley beyond 10
A writer’s companion 11
One more time 12
Nature’s Beauty 13
The shameless one 14
African woman 15
Distant love 16
Heart of man 18
When will it happen 19
Complexities of life 20
VI
Cindy
Oppressed and depressed
Affected and inflicted
Sullen sunken eyes
Misty and teary
Drop drop drop
Your sullen sunken eyes
Dropping salty tears
Rejected,
Abused,
‘Cindy’,
What did you say he did to you?
He bought me bread…………
He told me to show him,
And then,
In a minute I saw blood run down my dress
He covered me
Tightly
Held a knife against my throat
And so?
Here I am,
They say I am carrying a baby,
My daddy’s baby.
Nowadays,
Mother looks at me and drop drop her tears drop
Daddy looks at me,
And spits on me,
He says am a spoilt brat!
1.
Who will?
Who will take care of them?
Left,
Abandoned,
Hungry and sick,
No one to to turn to,
No shoulder to lean on,
Long walks from
Home to home.
Like a thief,
Sida has come and stolen our loved ones
Papas, mama, are forever gone,
No hope
Orphaned.
You look at us in the streets
As we beg,
You spit on us
You slap us and shout,
Shule ni bure!
Then you look at us
One more time and go
2.
Memories of Chemare
Far in the east,
I sit and wonder,
Awake in the cold,
Distracted by nightmares,
Nightmares haunt me!
Memories haunt me!
Sounds of women………..
Sounds of children………….
Screams! Screams! Screams!
Blood spills!
As the nightmares wake me up
Reminding me of my childhood,
Yes,
Memories of my childhood!
These memories,
Memories that linger in my innocent mind,
Making my eyes weary,
My hair grey,
With nightmares and chills,
All night, all day.
These memories of Chemare…….
The massacre of the innocent,
The killing of the children,
The raping of the young,
The strangling of mothers
When in my young days…….
Memories of my childhood,
Memories of the
In the shadow
Of
3.
The swimming pool
I envy the waters at the pool,
It knows your embraces and beauty,
I envy the waters of the pool,
It cleans you and leaves you sparkling,
I envy the waters of the pool my loved one,
It knows your warmth,
I envy the waters of the pool,
It swallows you and spits you,
I envy the waters of the pool,
Never lonely, as you play with its waters of the pool.
Oh waters of the pool………..
You steal away my love,
You cover her with your magic,
And deny me the pride of her company,
Oh waters of the pool!
4.
Loved one
Our hearts have been intertwined
Locked together
The key thrown away
Our future: concotion of love and passion
Loved one will you take me?
You chisel shaped eyes,
Melts my heart
Eating my words away
Leaving me mumble
As I long to see you again.
5.
I beg of you
I beg for your love my dear one
Your unconditional love
Love me
Love me
I plead.
Do not refuse my proposal
Nor deny the love I have for you
Do not refuse my humble cry to you.
Dear one,
Why do you slip away?
From my hands like a snail
Is it because I have no job?
Or no car
Tell me.
6.
The shy little one
So heavy
Lead it must be,
Enormous weight
Killing me inside and outside
I cry mercy, I plead
Give me a smile
The frown is killing
Strangling the love I have for you,
Just tonight shy one,
Just tonight,
I beg,
A smile is all I want,
As the moonless sky
Shines bright
And the glittering star
Falls on me
Just a smile, an embrace will keep me
Through the night.
As I think of your love
Oh little shy one!
7.
Grandmother said……
Listen
And listen well,
They will notice you when you pass,
They will follow you and pester,
“Please tell me “is it me? They will ask,
So confused ………
So naïve you will think…………
But listen well,
Listen with your ears
Listen very well,
I trod on this very lane,
Look at me!
They will promise the unpromisable
And give the unlivable,
But listen very well,
Daughter of my first and only child
The only child I bore to
Owino Ja alego usonga
Woud Alego pacho!
Listen!
You are dignified
You are a jewel in Alego
Do not trade respect with coins,
Do not trade dreams with pleasures,
Nyaimbo daughter of my Son,
Listen to the wisdom of the women
For my days are gone,
And my dreams are fading away.
Daughter of my son,
They say the moons
Have seen a bad disease
A disease that kills you alive
You are dead as you live
Oh, Nyaimbo
Listen to the wisdom of the women
And let not the pot break before noonday.
8.
If I could
I weep and weep
Remorse fills my mind,
Thinking of yester years……..
I could reverse my past,
I could.
Those days
Yes
Those days
Chauffeured in limos
At the back left I sat,
Dereva!
Palacina twende!
I pity the poor servant now,
He quickly reversed the car,
In no minute palacina -I was.
Those were the days
I was above the law,
I swam with the big fish
…and the women too
Plenty like hens
Covered in money
Feared and respected,
I was me.
Money turned his back on me
And I fell,
We sealed the deal,
It came to pass,
In no time,
I was down in grass,
Writhing in pain as I mourned my past.
Gone were the days
I could.
9.
In the valley beyond
Far across the land,
I cast my eyes to the valley beyond,
The valley that rests my hope,
The valley that hides the sun at noon,
And shelters us from rain of life.
I have seen my life,
The second birth of my coming,
Far across the land rests my savior.
I know I will survive the storms of life,
I know I will leave to tell,
I will tell and testify,
Of the goodness he has been to me.
Far across the land rests my peace.
10.
A writer’s companion
When I begin to write
You give me words
When I begin to recite
You give me counsel
When am tired
And I feel like I am no more
You sooth my tired mind
When you whisper;
Write girl write!
And God I say thank you for this pen.
11.
One more time.
If only I could see you face again,
If only I could see your smile again
If only I could touch your hand
And feel your hand in greeting
The grip of of a fatherly hand
Against mine
I would hope again
For what I hoped for,
Live again
For what I lived for
If only…. You could speak to me
And I speak to you
Language unspoken
Language of love
I could love more as I loved.
12.
Nature’s beauty
Ever looked at sunrise
And followed to its setting?
Ever looked at the full moon
And followed it to its fading?
What sight!
What amazing beauty.
The smell of morning as
Fresh from tree leaves
That lies around and within
Oh
What an awesome wonder!
13.
The Shameless one
An act of cowardice,
An act of insanity,
Portrayed by the big,
Portrayed by the biggest,
Against man?
What a pity,
No one to call,
No one to tell,
No one to help,
Destroyed property
Destroyed jobs
A betrayer?
What is the law?
What does it say?
Fairness or unjust,
Respect or shame,
Tell me,
I the mwananchi wait,
Innocent blood shed
In the name of ………..
An oath,
Taken against man
You shameless one.
14.
AFRICAN WOMAN!
Rise up!
AND…Stand tall on your feet,
Throw away your blanket,
AND…Open your eyes wide… beyond the sky,
I see hope,
Hope. For now and the future you want,
Look again,
Look!
The sky is dark, clouds gather,
Confusion of the oppressed is on the sky,
The moon’s been raped,
Snatched of its innocence and beauty,
Stars and clouds have clashed,
The sun has fallen to the earth,
Burnt and killed it has,
The people are melting
Weeping and crying,
Oh woman,
Sadness surrounds the earth
Save it!
15.
Distant love
Miles away you are
I long to see you
……..see your smile
………and hear your voice,
Echoing in my ears
Long gone you are
Far and distant you seem
Yet love
Ignited within
Burns with passion,
Oh lovely knight,
Come and rescue me
From the strongholds of solitude
And make me yours!
16.
You kill your children
Slaughter your brothers
Drink blood
And swear oaths,
Long gone
Your peace…….
Dream in debauchery
And kill your daughters
You abandon
Kill
Slaughter
And behead.
Running around like rascals
Raping the young and old
17.
Heart of Man
The beauty of the human heart
Scares me,
Unpredictable,
Inconsistent,
Loving,
Changing from time to time,
Its beauty amazing,
Kind and loving
Harboring good and bas
But never get ting mixed up!
18.
When will it happen?
Books! Books! Books!
Knowledge and wisdom
Yet still pursue,
Power to read
We posses
Yet still,
Read! Read! Read!
Can there be day?
When the day absents itself, and men skip that day,
In yonder!
Can it happen?
19.
Complexities of life
Life is like a leaf,
Compound and simple,
Its leaves…
Some small
Some very small
And some very very small.
Yet in one stem.
Veins criss cross the leaf,
Some same some not same,
Others have dents,
Others none.
As I sit,
Watch and wonder,
The complexities of life
Unravel in my mind.
Today sick,
Tomorrow healthy,
Today rich,
Tomorrow poor,
The ladder falls,
The ladder rises,
As others rise,
Others fall,
So many strides are made
So many rules broken,
As I sit and wonder still,
The many questions unanswered,
The many complexities around us
And yet still life goes on.
20.
