My Symphony
William Henry Channing

To live content with small means.
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion.
To be worthy not respectable,
and wealthy not rich.
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,
act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes,
and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

The Bend in the Road
Helen Steiner Rice

Sometimes we come to life’s crossroads
We view what we think is the end;
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it’s only a bend.

The road will go on and get smoother
And after we’ve stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger
Let go, and let God share your load,
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow
You’ve just come to a bend in the road.

*Mama I made it!*
Unknown


*Mama I made it!*
I occupied Parliament
Remember the #occupyParliament demonstrations?
But tell papa I’m sorry
I won’t come home tonight
Not because I’m spending at a friends’. No!

2/…
Not because I’m among the injured. No!
Nor because I was abducted as they have to most of us. That would have been better
I’m in cold dark place called the morgue Mama
I know Papa will be angry why I wore his shoes
I had to, I know they are bigger but I had to …

3/ …

Otherwise no one could have.

I know he will complain that I have read too much political novels
Please don’t let him blame Animal Farm,
Don’t let him blame Kidagaa Kimemwozea,
Don’t let him blame Tumbo Lisiloshiba,
Don’t let him blame Kifo Kisimani,
…

4/ …
They hailed us for being fearless Mama!
They called it an historic moment ;
actually unprecedented.
Did you watch the news?
All over the country thousands of us matched forward, wearing mostly black,
chanting slogans and singing revolutionary songs.

5/ ...
They call us GenZ Mama.
Some Mpigs say we have watched too much Netflix
and we eat KFC. Sorry for the spelling Mama,
I meant MPs.

6/ …

Did you see how we sang ‘Kudade’ with Mc Gogo?
Did you see how Juliani turned up and we sang ‘Utawala’? That song you call ‘Nikoo njaa siwezi karanga’?
Did you hear us sing ‘Tujiangalie’by Sauti Sol?
Have you seen King Kaka’s ‘ Wanataka Kutumaliza’?

7/ …
Did you see how Mulamwah gave us Tea and Mandazi?
Have you seen all the comedians, Content creators and influencers?
I told you it will be Big Mama!

8/ …
We matched forward Mama
Slowly and peacefully Like you told me
We said we were peaceful
They rattled us with teargas and water canons Mama
We coughed, cried and chocked to the smoke but still matched on

9/ …

We matched amidst the sting of that pink water they sprayed on us with those beastly vehicles. But nothing was more painful than hearing them pass that draconian punitive Bill Mama. Remember how you used to forcefully give us porridge by locking us between your legs, …

10/ …
… pinching our noses then pouring a tone of porridge in our forcibly opened mouth?
Leaving us with two choices; swallowing or choking to death? That’s what they did to us today Mama
But unlike in the past, today’s child chose the latter; death!

11/ …
We approached the parliament as promised.
We eventually occupied Parliament Mama
Albeit briefly.
The wall gave in and we entered.
I’m sorry I did not taste the rice
As some did Mama

12/ …
All I tasted was the bullets Mama
They sprayed me with bullets Mama,
That’s why i won’t come home.
My battle is over Mama
But not the revolutionary war.
• • •

For CK at his Christening
Daniel Kelleher


We wish to the new child,
A heart that can be beguiled,
By a flower,
That the wind lifts,
As it passes.
If the storms break for him,
May the trees shake for him,
Their blossoms down.

In the night that he is troubled,
May a friend wake for him,
So that his time be doubled,
And at the end of all loving and love
May the Man above,
Give him a crown.