Thursday, May 10, 2012

Swirls Of A New Connection by Emmanuel Sigauke



Nippy insects never before noticed,
crinkles of the day's crust
before the eye became the secret it hid.

You and I in New Complex 3, crashing
the lice of ignorance, words of riot, like we were
starting a new language, married to teeth
learning to greet, before the grit
of strangeness evaporated and we were revealed
one for the other.

That train to Mutare, then the bus to Bulawayo,
to emerge years later, we could never have guessed,
on the Delta King, sliding down Sacramento River,
you tilting your head in the Titanic breeze,
telling no dreams, nothing much to celebrate,
only blisters on the skin of experiment.

That train perhaps never left Harare
and the Christmas Pass ravines on your cheeks
are what I imagine when I look
at what might have been possible
had New Complex 3 never happened.

The train took off; Dangamvura splashed and breathed—
we arrived in Highlands, Bulawayo, even before the sun
greeted its wife. And miles from New Complex 3
we sealed the deal that finds us
now in Chevys on Garden Highway, Sacramento.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Mistress... By Chris Chakwana



He enticed me with his fat wallet
eight carat diamond ring
told me sweet pernicious words with his venomous tongue
like a serpent fooled me with fake promises
about buying me a car
taking me overseas to places I have never been
to the Caribbean and the Zanzibar.
I gave up my womanhood to quench his sexual appetite,
his daily food
look at me all worn out am now damaged for good.

He told me I was his alpha and omega
told me in this life and the next we will always be together
Overnight I agreed to be his mistress
made him forget his stupid wife, I saved him, this duke in distress
tied him with my apron, he lived beneath my dress
my prerogative his carnal desire to address
but look at me now my life is in a mess.

He told me I was in control
serenaded me with sweet nothings
like a fool I happily played to the sweet tune of his drum beating
forgot about his short comings
but look at me now I sit at death’s door with all my belongings

They tried to tell me but Oh no! I wouldn’t listen.
With a perverse attitude of a donkey I knew it all
my virginity, my youth he yearned for,
allowed myself to be misled
my neatly woven future, fabric of my life I frayed.
Too late I realised all who warned me cared.

Forgive me God, you I have betrayed
allowed myself to be used by the devil I have strayed.
My adulterous life I trivialised
this sinful life I have realised.
overnight you I forgot
took pride in my ways 
now I have become that township harlot
and the disease has numbered my days

I stand before you full of too much shame
man of cloth, married man have I not bedded in this my game,
at its seams I have torn this quilt, this fabric of Holy Matrimony.
I accept the guilt full of remorse
I the root cause of most of their divorce.
Thus I come before You in repentance
although am a sinner
I call upon your grace
me Your child please embrace
grant me penance.
First published on http://www.scribbledn.blogspot.com/ 

Monday, May 7, 2012

GNU by Batsirai E Chigama


Image - filipspagnoli.wordpress.com


Backs ache,
With labour pains of a child
That has refused to be born
See/
when we consummated our relationship
We agreed on the name of our first born daughter
We would call her FREEDOM,
The right for our children to education
The right for all to access health
The right for all to live in peace
The rights that, expressed,
Have landed our brothers and sisters in prison.

Taken from Soul Sistaz, by Batsirai E Chigama
First Published in War Against War, Mensa Press 2010

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