Africa

I wrote this when I was in UK. I hated writing in Swahili, still do but I missed home so much i translated it. I have murdered Kiswahili so please forgive me am a barbie like that.

My love, I mourn for you

I said goodbye to everyone.
I did not look at you
I smiled,
A fake smile
That said that I would be ok.
I walked away from you, my love.
Oh, What a foolish thing to do!
I needed distance,
I had told myself.
Time to get to know other people, new things.
It seemed that what used to make me happy
About you no longer held any appeal
I needed to get away
To experience things anew somewhere else.

Then why is it that I think of you all the time.
I remember your warmth like a radiating sunset
The taste of you on my tongue
The smell of you,
A hearty cologne of spice, sunshine and tropical fruit
Your rhythm that was the beat of the African drum
Our special language that we shared
I long now
to speak it back to you

I wanted to be free of you
Only looking back at you once or twice as I left
To memorize your features and replay them later in my mind
Now I need to see you
My body and heart long for you
My passion for you is unquenchable
Your like a drug that runs through my brain
I need more to get through the day.

I run away to discover myself
But realised I am nothing without you
You make me whole
I dance to the beat of your drum
I want to be with you my love
Will you please take me back

I am anxious to see you again
Forgive me for leaving
Please let me come back
Oh when can I return
My heart of hearts
Africa, my love.

NINALIA

Nilisema kwaheri kwa wote
Sikukuangalia
Nilicheka
Kicheko kisio cha ukweli
Iliosema nitakuwa sawa sawa
Basi nikatembea tutoka kwako mpenzi
Lo! Kitu cha upumbavu nilichofanya!
Nilitaka nafasi
Nilijiambia
Masaa za kujua watu wengine, vitu zingine
Kwajili vitu vilivyo nifanya
Niwe na furaha juu yako havikia vikinifurahishi tena
Nilihitaji kuenda mbali na wewe
Kufanya vitu zingine mpya.

Mbona je basi
nakuwaza masaa zote
Nakumbuka joto yako ilofanya damu yangu iwe na moto
Utamu wako kwa ulimi yangu
Harufa yako.
Kama marashi -Ulionuka karufuu, jua na matunda
Pigo la moyo ulio kama pigo ya ngoma ya Africa
Lugha yetu tulioengea pamoja
Nawaza, nataka kuongea na we sasa

Nilitaka uhuru kutoka kwako
Nilikuangalia mara moja ama mbili nilipokua nikienda
Ndio nijifahamishe na wewe ngio nikumbuke baadaya kichwani
Sasa nataka kukuona
Mwili na mwoyo yangu yanakutaka
Upendo yangu kwako haishi
Wewe ni kama madawa ya kulevia
Kichwani
Nahitajii ingine ndio nieshi

Nilikimbia kotoka kwako ndio nigipate
Lakini nimeelewa kuwa mimi si kitu bila wewe
Unanifanya niwe nzima
Nacheza kwa mupigo ya ngoma yako
Nataka kuwa na we, mpenzi
Nichukue tena kwako
Ninataka sana kukuona tena
Nisemehe kwajili nilikuacha
Tafhathali niache nirudi
Lo! Naweza kurudi kwako lini
Mwoyo wa mwoyo wangu
Afrika, mpenzi.

Raylitpoems 2003