THE EASTAFRICANPOET

OK,ITS BEEN A GREAT YEAR ESPECIALLY FOR US POETS OR ANYONE WHO CAN DROP GREAT AND AT THE SAME TIME LOVELY WORD.THERE ISN'T A LOT TO BE SAID ONLY THAT POETRY IN KENYA AND EAST AFRICA AS AWHOLE IS GROWING.. KUDOS TO ALL WHO SWEATED IT OUT IN THE MUSCLE AND BRAIN TO MAKE SURE THIS REVOLUTION GETS BETTER. TO kwani ,the kenyanpoet ,c- quel , wapi ..AND A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DID IT GOOD. PAMOJA ! WE PRAY AND HOPE 2008 BECOMES A BETTER YEAR FOR THIS MOVEMENT. PEACE!

A few years ago we all lined up with our ID cards and election cards to "choose" or rather elect leaders we thought could pull this our country out of the melt- down it was wallowing in. See nobody could blame us if we did the right or the wrong because we were a bunch of invalids who were ready and desperate for anything that could cure us of the disease that was eating at us. Whether we were shortchanged or not remains a matter of personal opinion,how I look at it might or might not be how you or she looks at it.Its all personal. These two poems are about the flip side of our society after the "second(2002) revolution." BETWEEN ITS ONCE AGAIN THE SEASON OF MADNESS BUT WHAT FILLS OUR HEARTS IS GLADNESS SOMEONE SAID,"these politics of primitivity ought to be in the museum of antiquity as its where it belongs.." SO ITS ONLY FAIR THAT WE SHARE AND UNLEASH WITH THE GREATEST OF MENTAL FLAIR WHAT ACHES IN OUR INSIDE IN A WAY SO THOROUGH THAT WE CANNOT HIDE. S

Few things are as overrated as love,by this I mean the affinity two people have for each other,maybe only sex.Being a cliche that it is,I decided to consolidate on its " clicheness "(if I may)by doing one more piece on this exhausted issue.. This is for the woman that I gave my measly self in exchange for.My lady PRICELESS: ITS ALL ABOUT YOU AS ITS ALL OF YOU, ITS THE ILLUMINATING SMILE THE GRACE OF THE WALK THE SENSITIVE AND SOFT FOOTSTEP. THE EYES,THE THIGHS THE HIPS,THE LIPS THE TRUTHS,THE LIES THE PAINS,THE PLEASURES.. THAT MAKE ME STICK ON YOU LIKE A BUTTERFLY TO A ROSE THE SOFT AND PETAL LIKE KISS OR YOUR ECSTASY AND THE HISS.. THE WHISPERS IN MY EARS AND THE KILLING OF MY FEARS, THE ACCEPTANCE OF MY YEARS AND THE SHOULDER FOR MY TEARS. THE TEARS THAT ONLY YOU GETS TO SEE AND THE FEARS THAT ONLY YOU GETS TO SHAR E. THE ONLY ONE THAT GETS TO FEEL MY CARE AND THE ONE WHOM I KNOW WILL BE THERE. WHETHER MY WALLETS HEAVY OR NOT IF I AM HERE OR NOT AND WHEN WE BIN

Nothing and I repeat nothing,makes this tedious happening called life as cumbersome as finding oneself.Simply said,finding yourself is difficult,strange and slow..so slow that many fall of this road called life without getting there.Few of us know ourselves and plenty wallow drunk in this search.I for one aknowledge it that I am more lost than found and I meet so many like me. This next set of poems is all about a lost soul,one that is painfully trying to find its true essence in life.. "Before you find yourself you have to lose yourself" Find yourself.Soon. 1.AROUND US: IF PAIN AND HATE TEARS AND BLOOD ARE RECYCLED SO MUCH ON ONE THAT IT BECOMES THEM, FOR EVEN THE SOFTEST CAN EVOLVE INTO ROCK HARD BEASTS, CAN THEY CHANGE BACK? IN THE WOMB OF OUR MOTHER WE SIT SO SAFE AND COMFORTABLE. IT IS IN THOSE DAYS THAT INNOCENCE IS TRULY INNOCENCE,CLOUDY WHITE PURITY. IF THE STATE OF INNOCENCE AND PURITY CAN JUST BE CARRIED AHEAD,NOT ERODED,WOULDN'T IT BE A PACIFYING THING? BUT AGA

What would Nairobi do without WAPI ?Go on as it is, isn't it?but it would be like that gum that is devoid of its core molars,everything seems OK but it really isn't .. to quote " WAPI is a British council platform that makes it possible for visual and verbal artists to showcase their art (in words and pictures).We tame the underground to mean the upcoming, the undiscovered,those who by default or design are not part of the mainstream.we believe that the underground in Kenya is a hotbed of activity and creativity and we bring some of it to the fore the discerning public through regular(monthly) WAPI programme. WAPI aspires to become a talent spotting platform- the place where tomorrows best acts are identified and enjoyed .."enough said, don't you think so? WAPI deserves a pat on the back,a handshake and most definitely thumbs up.The job is way way above commendable.Keep kicking it WAPI , we see and appreciate you big time .. For the whole WA