Charles Lipanda Mahigwe President of African Youth Artistic Poetry-AYAP
DOLDRUMS
On a day of love and sorrow
I am still and quiet
Like a silent sea
I am loved and left
In a silent night
I dream of you
My eyes see unseen view
Of our wonderland
Butterflies on blue berries
Hoping at attaching
Black birds flying freely
In our imaginary empire
I am lying besides you
Trying to pat your soften body
On a steep surface of land
Yet I only find myself holding
And smashing silt and sand
I imagine being with you here
We would play and dive in this sea
Following these ocean currents
As they cause waves of water
Flowing silently as profound deaf
But you have left me in a condition
Of eutrophication
Unable to breath due to suffocation
I am dying alive
For noway to survive
You didn’t come to stay
But to leave
You taught me to love
Yet you were chemistry
Knowledge of applications
Of love and pain
Whose solution is stress
I spread my wings
And fly there high
In the Doldrums
Where air is dry
Where life is cool without you
And not tougher with you
There, I’ll be reborn
And learn not to make any one torn
Though her face seems to be worn
I’ll love her forever and never allow
Myself to be gone
I’ll bear with her
In both bad and good moments
Till we rise our own flag of love
On this precious state
And make it more stiff than
Romeo and Juliette
I’ll build hope on her
For our love to shine brighter
Than stars and moon
STOICHIOMETRY
I am a scientist
Conserving the law of matter
I can crunch moles
When given poem’s mass
How many particles make one poem?
Or shall I conduct an experiment
To investigate what causes ideas
To escape into the atmosphere?
Jot down the first line that stings you
Or wait for a variable to be controlled
It is not magic that produces people poets
Vision is a catalyst
That speeds up the photosynthesis
Of cluttered words through photolysis
Into palpable piece.
Ambition is a library whose art
Paints meaning of success
Using serrated words
Sploshing and spluttering in a river of books
Like virgin papers rustling in hands.
Mission is a set goal
That’s compiled of the tickings of watch
Never leave a poem to be finished later
Or else you will cringe from it
As your face crinkling in disgust.
Poetic solution sizzling in laboratory
Applying chemistry
Can manufacture poetry
Under stoichiometry
LIFE HAS GOT THORNS
I’ve been running, running and running away from the thorns of life
Since I was three
Hoping that these thorns will dry and fall
But the more I grow, the more they become fleshy
They are piercing into my skin and eating up my remaining blood cells
Leaving me like trees in Sahara desert
I’m a building with no foundation
That can melt down like waxy in fire
I’m a tree with no roots but only structures held onto the the sand
Which can be easily eroded by zephyr and showers
I’m the infertile soil from which nothing grows
I’m the smoke swirling separately
But I can’t be caught
Shall this life lose her thorns?
For it wasn’t my wish to drink this cup of bitterness
I also needed care from my roots
Feeding me from my childhood
Was I born to live in orphanhood?
Where education is the pearl
It costed me legs and hands for my breath couldn’t endure me in deep waters
Where clothes are like golds to find
Sleeping on the ground without even covering blankets
Has become my routine
Why chopping our stems down with your western pangaknives
Spreading yourselves as many as weeds in our fields
We’re tired of these bloodsheds floating as runoff flowing on the valleys
What kind of greedy are you?
Exploiting our lands
And leaving us orphans and our mothers widowers
Life has got thorns
That hurt our hearts
Making our souls mourn
With every tide of the lake Tanganyika
Under “you write what you live”
This is the voice of the African children
27 December 2022
THE DARKNESS RISES
Who shall remain
When the darkness is rising?
Day and night struggling
Healing uncured diseases and pandemics
Shall we bring salvation through our unspoken words via mics?
The darkness is rising
Our hopes are fading
But can you imagine
How our minds are still working
Like heavenly bodies
Waiting for the new born to bring light
We believe in him
As children spending a day without being fed
And yet they don’t lose hope
Expecting their father will only bring something to eat
Welcome Jesus in our lives
For he shall move freely in our souls
Let him reign the eternal kingdom
For he will bring happiness where sorrow is established
Let him walk into out paths
For there will no more differences
Between right and left
This is Emanuel
God with us
The day which no more darkness shall rise
But only descend between oceanic crust and continental plate
Merry Christmas
THE GLOWING GOLD
As a fourth grade student
I knew nothing about love
But I could feel something in my heart
As she came inside
Thinking that that feeling was just temporarily
She was the glowing gold
With a fine and soft skin
The one which no boy would dare to touch and hold
Her beauty was incomparable
For her eyes shined more than sun
Her fingers tapping a six stringed guitar
Producing angelic voice
Her smile could hide her pain
Even when she was hurt
Looking at her was all I could do
She was my copybook
The one I’d easily memorize
And not even forget a single page
When asked to describe her
She was the ink of my pen
For I’d not even write a test when she’s not around
If I were a singer
I’d write her a lyrics
Composed of frozen words
That would melt down like waxy
When she said that she was taken
If I were an artist
I’d sculpture her with bronze
Standing millions of feet more than that of Babel
But it would fall down in a second
When she rejected me
IF WORDS WERE KEYS
If writings and words were keys
I’d have opened thousands of dreams
And bring them alive
Like air swirling in the space, my life would be
If my thoughts were answers from God
I’d have filled my inner doubts with hopes
And shut them down
Like shining bronze, my life would be
If worries were flash floods
Fear, bad spirits and demons would have been washed away
And our bodies would remain temples of heaven angels
Like devouted Christian, my life would be
If heaven had had a door
I’d have visited my parents thrice an hour
And they never recognized me unless I told them
Like bipole, my life would be
If school was a girl
I’d have married her before other people knew
That she can breathe,, speak and show the path of success and I’d apologize for being selfish more than millions of days
Like teaching, my life would be
If my mom and dad died when I was 17
I’d not have been struggling to death
I’d not have been going to school with an empty stomach
I’d not have been walking barefoot
I’d not have been wearing worn and torn clothes
And I’d know where there were engraved
Like worse misfortune, my life would be
If I die today, many unfulfilled dreams at my deathbed will tell that if I were alive, they would’ve been brought alive
And my soul would be complaining above the lake Tanganyika
Like malleable, my life would be
DAYDREM
It’ll reach a day
That you’ve been hoping to see
Like chickens ticking on the eggs to lay
Been waiting to discern what’s inside your flight
Your way will be full of lights
No more darkness to hinder your insights
But no matter what, but you’ll still need to fight
For there’s minor problem in life
Initially people lived for the beauty of the nature
But today we live for the sake of life
Dreaming to be alive that day
That holds thousands of pages like a book
Being written by your own visions
Can’t be wet nor destroyed even by violent floods
For they’ve been encrypted by your mind and soul
This day is the sky
For one part is cloudy and another is milky
But don’t give upon your dreams
For they are like streams
Carrying future for you
You’re expected to work harder after failing
For failure is not the barrier to success
But the courage for your progress
Changes will come
Like heavy rains from the sky
‘Ts when you’ll realize that
It’s not a man that makes dream but a dream that makes a man
Daydream is for you to dream bigger than the the corpsus of Brain
Or even bigger than the vastness of Drcongo
WHY SHOULD I LOVE WHEN NOBODY LOVES ME?
I told a girl that my heart
Was like a bird searching for her nest
While thunder and lightning were after her
She never replied
But only her lips could speak
Speak in a quavering voice
For they trembled like earthquake victims
Like gravels been washed away by the strong wind
Quelling her panic inside her
Should I say love is hell
Living in a tale
For it burns my heart
Till my chest becomes a bundle of ashes
Does loving someone queries art?
I hope she shall hear these feelings
Moving like blood into arteries
If love was a scar
You’d never find even a little trace of it on my body
For I’ve never been loved even a second.
If love was heaven
Only a few souls would walk into there
For mine never tasted even a little.
If love was sky
Stars could be counted
But only me who would not be seen.
If love was air
I’d die suffocation
For my body would contain no oxygen.
What’s love when words themselves are weaker than actions?
Where foes defeat soldiers in the battle
If lovers were warriors.
And war was love
I’d die before they even shoot me
And this wound could get no cure
For it’s like AIDS.
I’m scared of this type of love
For it makes my body shiver
Like smoking wrecking liver
This love is quarry
Where unstoppable feelings are dug out
Where a girl is quasar
Shining like gold and silver
But it flows harshly like water in river
If love was a car
Those names of boyfriend and girlfriend couldn’t even exist
That I’d travel the whole world by my feet
She and I walked a thousands of miles
Before I finished telling her
These words stained on my burned heart
While reading her smiles
Love is queasy
But this piece is not a quibble
Then why should I love when nobody loves me?
ON THE AGE OF NINE
The whole world became dark
I couldn’t see even a little lit of candle
I could only hear the voice of songs sung
And that voice made me remember
When my mom was still alive
She would sing as a bird singing for her lost ones
It’s said that a man doesn’t cry
But the tears came out from my eyes as spills
I could count every drop going down my cheeks
Like cars crossing the river’s hills
I was the ship with neither captain nor sailor in water
Thinking wreckage was on my way
I had no fear of being called an orphan
But I was afraid to be the orphan
Because orphanage is pandemics in our society
Will these dark imaginings get away?
Is it not just a state?
Don’t I breathe as you do?
Am I not a child among children
That you treat me like this?
Losing parents doesn’t mean you lose everything
You’re still all you were born
You still have dreams to pursue
You still have goals to achieve
You’re still having that vision in your life
You’re still having that mission in your journey
You’re still the one from God
You’re no less than the rain and the moon in this universe
At age of nine
I put all my thoughts on the line
But I realize now that
Life is the mixture of sand in lime
Only if you become version of yourself
YOU ARE THE ENGINE OF THE EDUCATION
You’re the engine of the education
You’re the key of transformation
You’re transforming ignorance to knowledge
You’re driving our mindset to the bridge
You usually give us hope in desperation
Within you, we find foundation
You make us solve puzzles
Even though there are puddles
Down the soil to sole
Let’s take you to the Costa Del Sol
For today is your celebration
‘Tis unforgettable day and commemoration
Why should we not praise you
When you turn theory into practical
Like Jesus turned water into wine
You’re electrical
For you put everybody on line
You teach us simultaneously
Like the River Congo walking to Atlantic ocean
You’re not preachers but you teach us to be good Christians
The Bible says, God blew breath into a man instantly
But you creatively insert education into our into our heart, soul and brain
You’re there for us to gain
Of course we’re basically taught at our home
But you usually show us that every road leads to Rome
We’re sheep
And you’re our shepherd
So we’re all here bowing
For this is not about gender or mission
But with the consistency
You’re the engine of the education
Happy teachers dayt Happy teachers dayd Happy teachers day
October 5th 2022
I STILL HIDE YOU IN MY POETRY
You promised to never leave me
Your words were like sugar squashed in THOBWA
Your smile was the magnet
For it attracted me
And I fell in love
But without knowing that there was a big lie behind that smile
I was like Jesus on a cross
Your own voice pierces my hands and legs
‘Tis not a complaint but a complement
I’m not begging you to come back to me
For you’ve just walked away
And never looked back again
And I liked it
For it’s better that way
Because I was becoming ice, melting down
And I was like sand put in water
And only seen when I settled down
Where else should I hide you?
If not in my poetry
For I’m not a bad guy
Although people say that I don’t care too much
Damn, I respect my feelings
And I don’t want them to drain away
You and I made an alloy
And we vowed to never tear our ties apart
I don’t need you no more
For I’m afraid to be erased like writings on a paper
For I lately realized that you’re the eraser
But I still hide you in my poetry
For you should feel these feelings stained on my heart
I know that you’re not a cure
Although you pretended to be
I opened my heart like a book
And my wounds inside me were exposed for you to see
But despite of healing them
You kept torturing me on them
I thought you know love
But you knew nothing than acceptance and decline
WHO’S BORN TO SUFFER?
Looking at the sky
Different colours swimming the sun
‘Tis very bright in my eyes
Unable to see twice
Coz this light is unbearable
It seems like it’s going to catch my thoughts
Then I ask you
Who’s born to suffer?
This question is hitting my spheres awkwardly
But rapidly and randomly like gas’particles
I never know if a man is born to suffer or to heal
But inside me, there’s a voice like zephyr
Telling me “Life is struggling”
So living is precious
And people only exist and that’s all
The universe is wonderful
For if you try to look down this Earth
You’ll find that we people ,no less than the trees and the stars,
Are suffering
Yet I don’t know too much
But I know this
That everybody is born to live and not to suffer
And death is our only passion
But before you die
Make sure you also heal the wounds of this world
For she’s bleeding inside her womb
The earth is the only woman
Who’s never been tired
Tired of the heavyweight of the atoms entangling on her wrist
But if I try to look outside there
I’ll probe that there are a lot of people who need help
Not only financially
But also your inspirations and courage
I’m not talking about money
For some of you are talented
You have got different experiences of life
But can you pick one and nurture it to this nature
I’m sure you have heard of floods in some places
There are homeless, hopeless and depressed
Let’s comfort them
For they also have right to know
That nobody is born to suffer but to live and die
But ask yourself before I what will be the influence that I leave for others?
So tell me who’s born to suffer out there?
WHEN SHALL MY TEARS DRY?
Death, come and take me, and I’ll fly away
Fly away where I won’t see tears again
Tears streaming down my cheeks everyday
Everyday that I can’t feel anymore pain
Life, surrender me and expose me to vultures
Vultures that can cease me
Cease me that I shan’t be see by any cultures
Cultures vulgarize my own family to the sea
My birth is longer zephyr, but rough
My throat becomes needle
As I drink this cup of my own blood
It sours, this soul shall tear apart
I blame my existence on this wicked world
I wish I’ve never been here
Not only here, but even there
For everyone around me is dead
So am I
I’m dead man walking in space
But when shall my face be tied like lace
I shall go in the woods and here the sounds
I don’t need to be tombed
So if I die today, don’t burry me underground
Leave me here alone and let me be bombed
My heart and soul shall praise the lord when I’m gone
My mouth and tongue shall sing all along
My legs and arms shall stand and come back home
And my ears and eyes shall go to LUBERIZI River and hear the song
The song once sung by my late father
And I shall be in sombre with my late mother
My late mother shall rise from the grave and kiss me again
And whisper those beautiful words
Beautiful words I used to hear from her when I was I kid
And shall never weep again
For there will be no pain
But when shall these tears dry?
(2022 September, 21)
IF
If I was asked to choose between
The moonlight and the sunlight
I’d choose the moonlight
For you look glowing at my sight
Your eyes shine as you blink
Your lips flow curls of drops as you drink
I want right close to you
As you’re primping yourself
Padding slowly your hands
Kissing you like in the rain
Flying away like stars in the sky
Dancing in the shower
And diving like fish in the Lake Tanganyika
I’ll be sky
And you, my stars
For I’ll ne’er be lit without you
Together we can mingle
Like magnesium oxide
We can make the earth so bright
Let our love be blooming like flowers
Even when we grow and become towers
Girl,
If I were a singer
I’d sing you lullabies to make you sleep
If I were a writer
I’d write it all about you
If I were a reader
I’d read read you every single minute into your eyes
If a pioneer
I’d play you with all my fingers
For you’re the strings
Producing sounds as air pass by
If I were a teacher
I’d teach you how to love me
Instead of Western Education
For this love breathes as I talk to you
If I were asked to choose between life wife
I’d rather say wife
Sighing like eagles
‘Tis you who would kill my devils
For you’re my heart
But if you stop beating and pumping blood
I’ll dry away like Autumn leaves
And these blood vessels will turn into ashes
Life is senseless without you
(2020 September, 19)
BROKEN WINGS
This type of love flies
So far in space and skies
A love
These wings are you and I
Let’s hold our love so tight and fly there high
Let nobody take us apart
And make one heart
I’m no longer single
For we’ve already mingle
Let’s live in art
For within this start
Each one will take their part
Performing tasks like dust in air
And I shall hold your hair
Tapping your back
With my fingers all around
Like tires moving on the ground
With you, I’m the flower held on the pestle
Without you, I’m the tree’s branch that’s dry and brittle
Our love’s wings are breaking
And my arteries are stopping working
Another part of my heart which is you
Is becoming ice like the ewe
This feeling I have
It’s like a storm brewing
Everything shaking even above
As galaxies glowing
This type of love lies
With her broken wings
I’m suffocating as she dies
She’s hardly moving as it stings
A bee
(2022 September, 12)
MY CRUSH
When I was at Primary school
I saw a girl
She smiled as I walked by
Her smile was like a flower
Attracting insects
With sweet smelling
Her face had colourful forceps
Bounded each side
Her lips were so attractive
Producing curls of fluids
Her voice was like the morning melody of slow motion of music
As she said her name with Swahili accent
T- U- L- I- Z- O
My heart became ice
Nothing I could do but just sighing
As she was walking
She was the star moving daytime
Through the clouds
When she disappeared
My heart started melting down
I couldn’t help myself
To say I love you
But these words were like lime in sands
I was in standard four
One class ahead of her
But this memory today
Is like a satellite in space
Capturing every detail
And now I should sail
(2022 September, 10th)
TRY
Things can be hard
And make you mad
But life is not bad
So it’ll never rend you sad
Clouds are blue
You can see everything knew
So you ne’er know
Unless you try
As the air moves,
The trees respire
An animal also loves
With intention to inspire
The sunset lightens so bright
Nothing hides
For there’s light
We’ve to stand vociferously for our lives
THE SCARS OF THE SKY
The Scars of the sky
Are traced on the heaven’s skin
Yet nothing is seen
On her face or eye
We’re often told that
The sky is the barrier
Between the heaven and the earth
But whenever I look at her
I see the beauty
That never seemed to exist
Her face is so pretty
Her eyes roundly glitter
Her nose is as cute as cat’s
Her lips often bring curls of drops of rain
Her voice is tender and soft
There are many scars like stars
On her body
These scars are still painful till today
They raped and tortured her
For her resistance
She endured all the pains she felt
They thought they destroyed her tenderness
But the good thing is
Those scars turned to stars
That one is able to see them
There so high
Lighting from the sky
From scars to stars
She became prettier than before
No matter what you go through
You gotta also endure all pain
For no pain, no gain
Be patient
Open your eyes and look above the sky
Where the Ether is neither scarless
Nor starless
And see how beautiful the sky and stars are
Smile and smell the incense
From lovely flowers
And you’ll be full of cherish and towers
_Of strength
The scars of the sky
(2022 August, 23)
ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM
Life is dark
So you cannot see through its back
Unless you’re the moonlight
Look your dream is on your sight
Hold it tight
Never let it go
For once it disappears,
You’ll never get it flow
Get up and begin your safari
Remember the part of journey is end
Don’t use your time stupidity
But use it wisely
Don’t despair for the calamities, challenges and disasters
That you’re going through
You may fail
For if you don’t fail,
You’re not even trying
You fall down
You may lose everything
But never lose hope
For it’ll help you to cope
LIFE IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO BE
Sometimes you fail to define life
Because of what you’re passing through
I know you’ve been trying hard and hard
But you never see any changes
But lemme tell you something
Life’s a choice
A choice that you got
The choice that stands straight
On your hands
As eggs being held not too tight or too slack
For them not to fall or be crushed
That’s what’s said to be life
Life’s not easy as you think it is
You’ll find some people struggling
To achieve their dreams and goals
Yet others are standing as unmovable as the American Statue of Liberty
These people are the shadows of others
For once somebody moves
They also move
They’re the blowing winds
Without direction
Look as the sun rises,
The shadows grows
And as it sets,
It shrinks
There’s no sweet without sweat
There’s no peace without insecurity
And there’s no independence without struggling
Prepared Angela Kosta Academic writer, poet, essayist, literary critic, editor, translator, journalist
