Anyway

Anyway,

I have lost more 
than I have found,

I have found more 
than I have gained,

I have gained more 
than I could keep,

I have kept more 
than I could love,

I have loved more 
than I could hold,

I have held more 
than I could give,

But I have surely given 
a lot.

Now I need some for myself...
but anyway!

* * *
Nov 2013
...drifting without sugar

The root of your smile

From the root of your smile
rain says goodbye
When stuck in the root
waving casts the die

If the light is too bright
shadows remain sharp
So your tail still swings
As the wind blows high

From the root of your smile
sojourns begin again
When the waves bring hope
The clouds stare amok

If the light is too bright
eyes remain shut
For within that simple smile
Your gait finds rest

From the root of your smile

Nov 2013

When I sing

When I sing

It swings
The all seeing eye

Clutches

When I pluck

It sings

The soft copper cord

Embraces

When I glide

It slides

The gentle blue steed

Curves

Who will laugh

Who will smile

Who will share the splints and sprint

Steady, Ready

Keep it Simple

Keep it plain

Smile

16th April 2013

For nothing

If nothing wasn't lost
So why did I find it

If nothing is impossible
So why did I make it

If nothing is for free
So why did it cost me

If nothing wasn't done
So why did I finish it

If nothing shouldn't be told
So why did I reveal it

If nothing was seen
So why did I miss it


If nothing came out
So why did I hide it

Since nothing just happens
I will just keep it

****
For my mirage in the eclipse
Adopted for 'flawless affections, drifting without sugar'

Nov 3, 2013

Lost

I’ve lost two cities,

I’ve gained three faster, lost three colleagues,

six seemed luckier.

I’ve lost four seedlings,

It's eight fruits I was after, lost five kilos,

Ten jeans now hook faster.

I’ve lost six shillings,

The twelfth disciple made it harder, lost seven weddings,

Fourteen pillows soaked disaster.

I’ve lost eight teachings,

The sixteenth verse spoke louder, lost nine canines,

Eighteen stitches held tighter.

I’ve gained ten chances,

The eleventh one is still on offer, know it’s not easy,

You too will heal quicker.

It’s fast so it’s easy,

That’s why you have laughter.

Bleed but be pretty, for I know you are a fighter. 

* * * *

Inspired by One Art a poem by Elizabeth Bishop (1911-79)

Malindi Kenya, 23-08-13

The National prayer breakfast - Yes we should pray

Yes we should pray

Starched linen on flowered tables

Hawk eyed waiters pounce and serve

Timid bishops stare in dismay

It’s an assembly so national, who knows its today

Edited prayers on rehearsed verses

The dust should settle, the carpet is soft

We’ll kneel when we are ready, just bring more soup

It’s paid for, is it? So why bother the grace

It so amazing for a wretch like me

I see I was blind, but the soup is not

Frisk them at the door, screen them thoroughly

Even Christ Himself, needs an invitation

For the nation is at war, it’s an exclusive function

Bite what you can chew, it will soon be over

Bacon and eggs, burn in the tray

Serve it while it’s hot, don’t forget today

For we dine among kings, the subjects should rejoice

Clapping for the martyrs, clasping for the mentors

‘What God can do, no man can…but a man can try’

In God we trust, where do we sign?

For petitions need endorsement, so do prayers

Make the prayers short, for the soup gets cold

We acknowledge the VIPs, thank you for the surprise

We acknowledge the sponsors, you’ve answered our prayers

Should we wait for lunch? For the speeches seem longer

We are in no hurry, the prayers can adjourn

We are in recess, the soup is hot

It’s an annual event, an assembly so national

God bless Kenya, the soup is cold!

***

20th June 2013

Just sing it

If I sung a song you know
of broken glasses and more
of swept out wishes ashore
of pent up noises abroad
of babies lifted in bones
would you sing it?

If I sung a song you know
of mothers brought up in war
of fathers presence forgone
of children flushed out not born
of crowded houses of God
would you sing it?

If I sung a song you know
of cheating husbands galore
of shameful housewives we scorn
of mourning spouses indoors
of sleepless nights in town
would you sing it?

Now you'll sing your song I know
of pent up anger and war
of ethnic conclaves you own
of tribal phrases you pawn
of usual suspects you won
Its censored lyrics your tone

Just sing it!

Feb 2012

My wife

I lament my life;
Celebrate my wife,
Pains I caused,
Scares I forced,
Shame I lost.

Patient and sterling,
Elegant and stunning;
Your beauty bespoke,
Beyond shadows;
Our sacrifice broke

Mama Fransisca;
A single tear is shed,
For my grave emerges.
Should I marry you again?
Is it a proposal in vain?

Perpetual;
Echoes within.
Transparent; revealed
Our twelve children sifted
Hidden in pain

Frey, may I marry you again?
Please?

Mfangano Island, Suba District, Nyanza Province , Kenya, 14/06/07

For my fallen neighbours

For my fallen neighbors
And my broken friends,
Thanks for the stitches, I know you meant me well,
Love fades in pieces if you know your wealth,
Hope tends to kiss us when we throw our nets
Bless the little chicken for it laid the egg
Six thousand wishes since we came on edge

For my wounded critics
And my scolded friends,
Thanks for the verses, I know you tried your best,
Fate tends to weave us when we cast our nets,
Peace tends to leave us when we dig our wells,
Bless the little farmer for he cried for rain
Five thousand wishes since we came on edge

For my broken seekers,
And my able friends,
Thanks for the purpose, I know you thrive in baits,
Chance tends to wipe us when we plan and fail,
Thrice we've seen it happen so we know it pains,
Bless the little foreigner for he pocked the hive
Four thousand wishes since we came on edge

For my rattled kinsmen,
And my shaken friends,
Thanks for the warnings, I know you felt the cane,
Fear tends to bind us when we look in vain,
Please be conspicuous its the choice we've made
Bless the little fingers for they pushed us then
Three thousand wishes since we came on edge

For my sleepy girlfriends,
And my smoking trends,
Thanks for the irony that remained instead,
Thirst is when you lift up and we see the shame,
Keep brewing roosters in your boyfriends pen
Shame creeps in quanta when you loose a friend
Two thousand wishes since we came on edge

For my hopeless beggars,
And their twisted hems,
See how you wake up when you drink in vain,
Peep through the glasses for you'll see the raise
Bring hope and tell us so we'll stop the game
Keep lifting shackles when the rhyme fits in
One thousand wishes since we came on edge

For the drunken speeches,
And the crooked ways,
Hope this will teach us to rebuke refrain
Please leave without us for we are lost in shame
Keep milking chances before the dew sets in
That's how they'll treat us since we shared our fame
No more wishes for we are now of age


* * * *
..drifting without sugar, personal collections by jimi shigi
February 2011

She got married to a local thug

She got married to a local thug
Stingy pickpocket whose fingers were stuffed
How else could we warn her when her ambitions were blurred
In fake engagements whose values held fast

She never sought us when the going got tough
Six thousand kisses couldn't bring him back
For the sentinels bullet did play its part

In diminished spaces that beggars lay mats
Tired of obituaries we sought a way out
For in religious ceremonies we thought we had luck

The widows we sought did dress in black
Painful tears that brought us bad luck
Its the crazy concubines who will break our backs

In sunshine and rain we will hold masks
Anonymous donors will meet our match
Big boys its seems will always payback
***
In memory of the fallen....
..drifting without sugar
March 2012

Grandpa's inheritance

The stunted lemon tree was our inheritance,
From grandpa who limped in jest of life.

Empty promises delude the gaunt,
His legend inscribed in cheeks he slapped.

Stories written, firm and tough,
We wished to cry but tears fold slow.

Stop the humor clap to pause,
The bird in hand has failed to roost.

Today we rest in shrubs that grew,
On lumpy graves that no one knew.

Still he kept the faith for all,
Wished us well we bow to glow.

* * *
Kisii, Kenya January 2010