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My-Girl Nov 2020
A sunflower from me to you
It is not much, but
I am sure it will do.

This is a bit corny
And a little cliche, but
This is what I do when I express my feelings.

When a certain person feels a different way.
They get a single flower not a whole bouquet.
This is to tell the other person that:
‘To the world they may be one, but
To them they are one big world.’

Cupid is blind, yes we know.
And he surprises people when he plays around with his bow and arrow.
You may never know whom you might fall for.
All you know is that you got struck by an abstract called love.

So you get a single sunflower,
And without expecting anything at all
You say to that person…

“Anodiwa shamwari, iri ruva kubva kwandiri kwauri, nekuti ... ini ndaida kuti iwe uzive kuti ndinokuda iwe kupfuura zvaunoziva.”

So this shouldn't change anything,
Especially how you see me.
I am still the same person as I was yesterday.

I do not wish to be with you.
We are not right for each other.

I just wanted to give you what grew in my garden.
This sunflower is to not be watered, but
Left to die.
Discard it if you must.
It is just a sunflower… nothing special.

- My-Girl
Kabelo Maverick Jun 2014
My attitude stinks?
My attitude stings!!
“One thing I want to assure them,
if they think I'm gonna change or compromise my attitude in my way of life,
Or in my expression or in my goal towards politics…
Then they are making me stronger, and I am  much, much stronger now.”
while humanity lay sleeping
a subtle sound came creeping
a tiny muffled murmur
of the drums  

it crept into our valley
a quiet distant sally
the reverberating tapping
of the drums

oh the drums drums drums
foretell the things to come
the tapping beat calls
hearts and minds to stir

awakened from dear sleep
we discern the growing creep
the mounting host of warriors
tramping on
      
the fifers next came peeling
the swooning mass was kneeling
the flash of brass and horns
enthralled us all

the salute of rifles thundered
leaving all of us to wonder
what this show of force
would mean for you and me

oh the drums drums drums
the flash and crack of guns
the might and mien of country
on display

yes we howl a raucous cheer
as we shout we raise a beer
the march of shock and awe
is on its way

the thundering timpani                                  
soul of a nation's symphony
united in common purpose
all in step

pressing on to foreign fields
with armies, tanks and shields
we offer sons and daughters
to the lords of war

sleek missiles flew and flashed
buildings crumble and crash
the righteous right of the stronger
proved again

but blood will wash the ground
wails of mourning will sound
dead soldiers and civilians
on all sides

percussive cannon blasts
bursts eardrums kills you fast
the awful smashing and the
bashing of the bombs

the popping flap of flags
assure a profiteers swag
much riches to be made
through the spoils of war

filthy lucre that is earned
the value of life is spurned
hoards of begotten treasure
condemns its lord

so spend it if you must
for your gold will turn to rust
and dust to dust your
soul shall return

oh the drums drums drums
calls our sisters and our sons
to step and march along
a deathly roll

constant war begets a madness
unhealed wounds endless sadness
friends and lovers sadly perish
families destroyed

oh the drums drums drums
once so stirring like a sun
the rattling snare of drumsticks
a hissing asp

oh the drums drums drums
we whistle through our gums
past the midnight graveyards
hallowed for our youth

so listen for the drums
the droning of the guns
stand firm for peace
and walk its blessed way

or you can yell yell yell
marching onward straight to hell
where death will greet you
with the devils kiss

he’ll sing you bitter taps
the music that entraps
and commends the young
to the wretched earth

or play Djembe for peace
witness all conflict cease
bongo bops for peace
may it always increase

yes the drums drums drums
the resounding joyful strums
a mirthful dance of peace
may it always increase

so play Djembe for peace
our song will never cease
our dance will be
a whirling prayer of grace

Music Selection:
Fela Kuti & Afrika 70, Zombie

jbm
3/9/12
Oakland
PETTY POET Sep 2020
NI SAHII*
Nimekuwa silent for a while waka-confuse kuhang boots na a short break,huwezi nipata bar no wonder bars zangu ziko so-bar,black supremacy... Niko na connection na maraga ndio maana akanipea hii ko-r-ti,ni  poet petty siku hizi na-weigh content si  value ya suti,apart from kutema visiriaz,nacheza guitar na at times isukutti,kaa ni kisima,si  unajua obvious hii_ siikuti,

Daily na hood niite mya-hoodie,ni  due to public demand so sikuwa na budi,nilipretend kunguru ndio nipate hizo white collar jobs,na nikasema sitadiss king rabbit ndio unispot kaka,aty petty ameomoka?,si aitane basi sherehe ya kukata na shoka,kaa ni breko naamkia konyangi,na hii  dry spell uko sure hunyongangi?.

Hii class kila mtu  huchoma tuko high class,heri  uko mnakula vako,huku kumekauka kuliko kichwa ya babu owino,dawa ya wivu nakuandikia eno,situmii smartphone natumia phone smart,only call sina  time ya kuchat,ambia smart joker jokes zake huwa joked smart,

Walisema sikio la kufa halisikii dawa,acha nijaribu tena  MARA MOJA, thanks to corona for the first time mluhya anaoga mkono na si  ugali anakula,na petty unatema hata  mtu  haezi sema,ni  venye alikuwa na vinyasa mbili so nikamwomba sho-r-t
moja,na petty pieces zako huniacha in pieces,hizo ndio comments nareply,juz for teases,

Na kama corona shida zangu huwezi zicough out kwa public,natumia mouth piece ya scimo na Leo hatubongi za mitaro na toothpicks,na kuna chizi flani  ananukia colon na hii corona huwezi sema kwa mama mboga iko loan,na kama ni  lyrics nauza hii itabidi umechomoa mita,na before niachilie mic,kumbuka sonko alisema social distance ni  ya one metre,sihang suspenders kwa shoulders, nikiwa hustle nahang guitar,hio  time short nimespend apa  nilikuwa na blessings za mama no wonder sijastammer,kama nimekubamba scratch kwa tenje uniseti stage ndio home na sijaplan...kuhama.
-P€TT¥PO€T✍️
©️2020.
Long time ago, they left the  boundaries
Like an eagle from afar, they sight our mysteries
In the system, they saw mismanagement within
They robbed their way in
They killed their fellow uniform man eventually
And the cycle continues circularly
Civilians pursued
Powers misused
Purpose is defeated

We have formally forgotten those days
When virtues of peace were promoted with violence
When the press were oppressed
When justice was jeopardized
When our constitution was constrained to contempt without conscience
When the scales were afraid of scary blood, but love printed papers
When the beaks of singing parrots were broken
When religious teachers were treated rigorously
Purpose is defeated

Purpose came again
Our uniform men are well informed
But they are not well equipped
A great battalion with good  training
Against that without training
A great battalion with pieces of metal
Against that with powerful machines
Ready but not resourceful
Purpose is defeated

No longer dying for the nation
Lets bring down those rebels
A call of duty to the north
They respond with gallant boots and courage
They respond with pieces of metal on their hands
They respond to a place where many have fallen
Even at that, they fought gallantly
They were made to improvise arms
Purpose is defeated

They return with blood stained boots, hands and courage
Their faces and pieces of metal looking down
They have fought a good fight
But sorrow lurks around our families
Women now widows
Offsprings now orphans  
Uncle died as one of them
Father retired as one of them
Pension still on attention, no ease?
Purpose is defeated

Purpose is here again
Retreat!  Retreat!!  Retreat!!!
Fela Kuti sang 'Zombie! '
Check point checking for phone users
****** civilians!  Dont make a call here!
Sheep flogged, goats flee
They get recruited just for revenge
Purpose is defeated

Purpose is here again today
Where natural death is rare
People are killed
People are killing
People are on their way to ****
Cows are chewing crops
Crops are chewing cows
This is not normal!
Purpose is defeated.

©Kporho Vwede Daniel
(a.k.a. General Ali official)
The poem is about gallant Nigerian army who have defended this nation, some dead, some retired without pension , the kind of weapons they were made to fight with , families of the deceased, their present reactions towards the masses
Mbunge Apr 2016
They asked me if I was planning to stay with you forever
And I told them music is eternal
And playing this tune will be reminding me of you
You're like Fela Kuti and Salif Keita on a mixtape
Or Stevie Wonder and Smokie Robinson on Def Jam auto tune
You're my music
And as I am about to give highest accolade to essence of being and balance
Bear with me
Sit still as I take you to depths where oceans of lyric and rhyme
Are brought down by tide
Into this slowly throbbing heart
And the music of the sun
Is made clear in the reflection of our eyes
I can see the notes dancing
Like ecstasies aroused by the kicks and snares of an old school beat
Like messages found in a calypso
Dance with me
Remind me like the rhythm of the night that you'll last forever
And the streaks of light from dawn shan't be seen
Till I nestle in thine arms
So play me the dead man's tune
You're my music.
Malintha Perera Oct 2014
past midnight
i cannot sleep
not when the currents of the night
drawing me in
my kuti is alight
with transparent beams
who said the night is dark
and the dark is a black stream ?

my eyes are shut
but yet open
i want to move
but where is my being ?
i see through the walls
through dark waves
who said the night is dark
and the dark is a black stream ?

sinking …. sinking…
further and beyond
thoughts flaring
no handles to hold on
not even sipping
those lips that once lured in
who said the night is dark
and the dark is a black stream ?

darkness is light
light is darkness
one and the same
the same emptiness
void has no colour
the colour is ego
the night is not dark
and it is not a black stream.

© Malintha Perera 2014
Babatunde Raimi Sep 2019
Oh! Africa!
Let me tell you
About my dearest Africa
The cradle of human civilization
The land of wonders!

Undoubtedly, the second most populous
Of all the continents
Where Gazzeles run to survive
And Lions pursue to feed
In a battle of survival

Let me tell you about Africa
Covering six percent of earths surface
Home to Nelson Mandela
And greats like Fela Anikulapo Kuti

But for Ethiopia and Liberia
We were all colonised
Introduced to foreign gods and culture
In all these occurrence
We never forgot Africa!

170millon of us speak Arabic
130million speak French
With over 2000 different languages
We are the kings of diversity

Let me tell you about Africa
Where we hold the ace
As the hottest continent on earth
Surely, a noble bragging right!

Go back to your history books
Let's set the record straight
Africa is not a country
Neither do we live on trees
It is a blessed and peculiar continent

Let me tell you about Africa
Where our only problem is governance
And corruption reigns supreme
Oh! Africa! My Africa!

Wait a second!
Are you planning a getaway?
Visit the Omo River in Ethiopia
The birthplace of Emperor Halie Selasie

Would you like to track Gorillas?
Then would love it
The Virunga Mountains of DR Congo
It is worth all your penny

The breathe taking scenery
That Zanzizar offers
Will make you relocate to Africa
Surely we are
The real Ministers of Enjoyment

If you want a birds view
Of our beautiful continent
Make it to the tallest mountain in Africa
Mountain Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
It stands at 19,340feet

Kenya reminds you of nature
Cape Town, our most beautiful City
The Mummies and Pyramids of Egypt
And the delicacies of Calabar, Nigeria

It is appointed to die once
But before you do
Visit our beautiful continent
Your life will never remain the same
That your education may be complete
And I hope this inspires you!
BungeeGum Oct 2018
Chains unbound , Shackles broken , Voices unheard finally
spoken.....

A raised fist to empower a community , to show strength , defiance , resistance and unity.... John Carlos & Tommie Smith

A man who had a dream , so big it endures til this very day , so big , it can't be cast cast away.... Martin Luther King

A lady who sat in front of the bus , thinking , why seating there was such a fuss , confident and brave.... Rosa Parks

A man loved by an African nation , capturing all with with his own brand of Afrobeat music creation.... Fela Kuti

A lady tending to the sick and wounded , bruised and battered , though a ghastly sight , ensuring their well-being , to her ... was all that mattered....Mary Seacole

Throughout history and even now , many have shown....

B-   Brilliance and Bravery
L-   Liveliness
A-  Ambition
C - Courage , Confidence and Creativity
K - Knowledge
Been on hiatus for a bit , decided to share the poems that I wrote for My universities ACS - Black History Month event
Hope you enjoy...
P.S : ACS- Afro Caribbean Society

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