Thirty
Nine
Living is hard in this poor land,
Sickness and disease are always to hand.
Rising early we meet the sun,
to toil and labour till our energy is done.
Evening comes and gives some respite,
beans and porridge to see us thro' the night.
A song, a story, a game to play
before on barren floor to sleep we lay.
We dream, we worry, of how things could be,
for our children, relatives and me.
It is natural that we all must die,
but at thirty-nine - WHY?
How
Old are You?
I have heard of Christmas, it's a celebration I think.
Where friends and family share gifts and drink.
A toast to the new and out with the old,
is what happens at New Year, so I'm told.
Easter, Eid, Hannukah and Diwali
have great meaning and reverence for many.
Each morning when I awake,
a small celebration I do make.
Birthdays, no cake or hat,
I was born and that was that!
Malaria
The mosquito is such a delicate thing
but in the night, how loud it doth sing.
Food a plenty for it to feast
no matter if it's sleeping child, man or beast.
It takes your blood and life force too,
your aching joints are just like flu.
Money for medicine I have none,
in hours or days my life may be gone.
My body responds with fever and pain,
so at rest I must remain.
As my energy drains away,
so to God I kneel and pray.
Space
The silence sky is ablaze with stars.
They say man has been to the moon and is going to mars.
Billions it cost to get them there.
I sit on a mat, not even a chair.
They can look back in time and space,
to see the origins of the human race.
I look round to view my domain,
and what I see is almost the same.
In cold deep space technology helps them survive,
I have three stones and a pot to keep me alive.
They say the spin offs to space are many.
Electricity, water, food and health I have not any.
If they were stranded in that desolate place,
then they would understand the hardship we face.
Before you go into outer space,
please remember the human race.
Jigger
flea
She voyaged from the west, by sail boat and sea.
She lurks out of sight just waiting for me.
No passport, visa or right of abode,
She has travelled along a precarious road.
No knock to the door or guest we invite.
She sneaks into our homes by day and by night.
She lays in wait until we are at rest
and enters the body, the feet to infest.
She burrows between the toes and under the skin,
to enjoy the juice of our body, which flows within.
A single black eye, a bump on the skin,
Itching, pain and suffering will now begin.
She swells with pride, her children to rear,
disease and mortality are yours to fear.
Do not rub or scratch the infested cyst
or the mother to be, inside, will resist.
We must extract this invader intact
or gas gangrene may impact.
.
Bacteremias and tetanus are dangers too.
Death and destruction may still ensue.
The soul is scared, the body abused.
We endure all this, for the want of shoes!
Eco House
Beaten earth to make a base.
Nature’s bounty, nothing to waste.
Sun baked bricks, all neat and dried.
Make the walls with love and pride.
The house is topped with branches and straw.
No window, or lock to secure the door.
As day dawns, light floods the room.
Moon and stars banish the evening gloom.
Sounds of life in the air do roam.
The eco house is now a home.
As the seasons bloom and blow.
Signs of wear begin to show.
Gods little miracles invade our space
Destroying the fabric of the place.
I crouch down as the rain sweeps in,
and wish this night the roof was tin.
Christmas
Christmas, a time for family and friends.
Food and drink and making amends.
Life's hustle and bustle set to pause.
The child within grows and glows.
Anticipation, excitement all consume.
As the air tingles with loves first bloom.
Dimming reflections so warm and tender
Recalling times of pageant and splendour
Exchanging gifts to show our love.
Giving thanks to the one above
Remembering those far from our touch,
of loved and lost ones we miss so much.
A celebration of all we hold dear,
making way for the start of a New Year
We
know its Christmas, do they?
As we rise on Christmas day
No toys or trinkets from Santa's sleigh.
Song and laughter fill the air.
The gifts of life are what we share.
Friends and strangers ring the earth,
Giving thanks for the Saviour's birth.
Greed and envy have no place,
for the salvation of our race.
Those more comfortable than we,
Can be fearful or indifferent to what we see.
Our needs and desires are goals we share.
The scale of plenty balanced unfair.
Suspend the rush and raise life's veil.
To behold a structure ever so frail.
Come lift up your hearts and join our band.
Brothers and sisters, hand in hand.
Rejoice and let the chattering voices roam
The spirit of Christmas needs to come home
The way is open, choose one's path.
Celebrate Christmas in Christ's Mass
This poem is dedicated to FOMO Founder
You
Make Me Forget
How lovely you are
That you take position of our parents
Your love and care make us to
Forget and dry up well of tears.
I thank God for making you born in Mulanje
You are taking care of a lot of souls
Which is a great responsibility
Making children to forget.
Helping does make a difference
Your bravery has achieved
Indeed you make me forget.
By: Gloria Silongw
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My Brother
or Me
Who will die first - my brother or me,
I am four and he is three.
They say one in four will not survive,
to the ripe old age of five.
My mother has gone, my father too,
but they made it till they were forty two.
My grandmother has lived many lives
and by the grace of God still survives.
Friends and relatives have all passed away,
due to the hardship they endured everyday.
With your help the problems we can fix,
and not become just another statistics.
Thank You
The gifts you've given are generous indeed,
helping we children in desperate need.
Your love and favours flow to distant lands,
helping to guide our tiny hands.
Fortune is not measured in things we hold, but in the potential,
love and laughter that your help unfolds.
We would like to entertain you with a song or a play and
if God is willing this may happen one day.
Until we meet a big thank you is what we convey and know
that you are in our prayers each and every day.
Visitor
How we dance, sing and play
to welcome you on this special day.
We have nothing this is true,
But laughter and smiles are thanks to you.
About our life you wish to hear.
Happiness, sadness and what we fear.
The time is short the day is done,
We must run before the setting sun.
Remember us as you leave this place.
by the smiles that adorn your happy face.
And as your lives return to normal
in our hearts you'll live eternal.
Bilharzias
No babbling brook or rushing stream,
and piped water is but a dream.
Still water and muddy pools are our lot,
safe to drink they are not.
Bugs and beasts come each day
to share where we wash and play.
The water is cool and refreshes the skin,
but dangerous snails lurk within.
They enter the body without any pain,
disease and destruction are their aim.
The toilet turns red, the damage is done.
To the doctor I must run
Death will come if two tablets I don't take
to rid the body of this terrible fate.
My pockets are empty, I have nothing to sell,
death comes slowly in a living hell.
School
The sun rises on our schoolroom so barren and bare
No window, door, desk or chair.
The walls aren't adorned with work we have done
Paper to write we have none.
Ninety eager minds squeezed into this space.
Total concentration on each and every face.
No pen or copy book to record the session.
It's hard to remember everything in this lesson.
Education and knowledge is what we seek,
Without it, our future is said to be bleak.
Poverty and hardship is what we face,
It's a privilege to attend this humble place.
Thunder and rain bombard the roof,
like a thousand wilder beast on the hoof.
Our time is cut short the lesson is done.
Homeward bound we now must run.
Agogo's
Tale
Grandmother old and frail,
Plays out her daily tale.
Dawn is greeted with a shivering sky.
Cock rejoices with his familiar cry.
Thanks to God, our life to hold,
As the days events unfold.
Ray of warmth pricks the air.
Hoe in hand, the soil laid bare.
Cleanse with nature's bounty in hand.
At the stream, in water to stand.
Wisps of smoke dance and rise.
Cradle the pot, on earth's hard prize.
Smiles and laugher, children to attend,
Off to school, their future to befriend.
Gleaning the land for water and fuel.
Coping with life's constant duel.
Friends and neighbours, news to raise.
Picking the stones and winnowing the maize.
Mortise and pestle the rhythm begun.
Breaks the silence of the afternoon sun.
Children's laughter returns to the fold.
Reducing the burden, stories untold.
Pleasure of food passing the lips
Silence descends as an unspoken script.
Hands together, spirits to lift
Thanks to God for his daily gifts.
The cock crows out over a cloudless sky.
Huddled together in dreams to fly.
Storm
Darkening clouds gather in a menacing way.
Drawing together at the end of the day.
The air is a tingle all vibrant and clear.
The leaves a whisper with quivering fear.
The air tumbles and swirls increasing in pace.
Heralding the progress of this heavenly chase.
The onset of rain comes with a burst.
Overwhelming the lands insatiable thirst.
Blackening skies are thrown apart.
As streaks of light pierce its heart.
Its breath explodes with deafening applause.
Life is frozen in the grip of its jaws.
The sky is electric with spears of light.
The air roars out as it catches the flight.
Time stands still until this turmoil is gone.
Stillness returns as the race moves on.
Dear
Aunt,
I'm very glad because this is first time to write a letter
for you in this year. I'm also pleased to communicate with
you through this Letter just because what I can write is not
what I can talk.
The main point of writing this letter is to show love to
you as you love us by caring and educating. The only way what
we should do in order to please you is just working hard.
I will try my best to work extra hard so that next year I
should do better in my MSCE exam.
Aunt you are our example because you are a courageous person
and I always admire what you do.
I normally ask God to bless you abundantly and have a long
life. Receive these poems.
With love Gloria Silongwe
The Key
to Sucess
Once you take me wisely
You will be happy
For I'm the key to success
Search who I am.
I am the one
Who has made teachers from cheats
And lawyers from liars
Take care of me
As chicken takes care of it's eggs.
I'm the one
Who opens the door for ambition
Who brings hope to hopeless
Who brings light to darkness
Make use of me
I'm the key to success
My name is Education
By: Gloria Silongw
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