Sikiliza

When azure skies dull to dark midnight hues Sun goes stars bright, sun comes stars remain When distance separates feeling from act When lies are shrouded by shadows cast… When your third eye shines these mysteries’ alight Do you accept the lie or the untruth? Do you pretend that your soul is blind? Do you walk in unhappy bliss? Or crawl in painful truth And for whatever choice one makes Do you call this life?

When shadows cast you in a way you don't recognize in the mirror When truths are left unread, feelings left unsaid, things left untouched When one clutches onto life’s memories willing them to rise again When one tries to conjure the dead, what then remains to fathom?

It seems we only seem to value those we loose At the darkest hour of the night When all we hear are echoes of our empty lives. We summon memories of shared laughs and joyous times and; Lament on unsaid truths, regrettable actions, unburdened emotions. Endlessly living without the gratification of knowing each day One did their best in being true to themselves and those fondly regarded; So that if this day will be my last one on this earth, You need to know just how much you mean to me And how my life Grows and glows Just by having you in it.

I am most tranquil when the wind blows on my face. I love the short swift bursts of trees, grass People, vehicles and tarmac When the earth whizzes past me Colors merge into an obscure sight of vague things past I hardly ever look back at a road trip. My eyes dart through the window, Looking and leaving Looking and leaving Back and forth Back and forth. My head spins and I close my eyes to drown the dizziness The sudden lack of light intoxicates me. I feel my icy anxieties thawing Sizzling and steaming up to the sky far away Replaced by a certain lighter delight Several sighs later I sit back and enjoy my journey The speed picks up My spirit soars And I suddenly really realize that there is some good and beauty In this otherwise sorry world.

Kigez

I have been quiet, I must admit. Those who know the Sikiliza tongue wagging would know this. But to my defense, I have been very very busy making noise about a wonderful project I have been involved in for the past couple of months. I was lucky enough to meet with Mũmbi Kaigwa (someone I have always admired!!) and work with her theatre company The Arts Canvas to plan an East African Tour of a very powerful Kiswahili play called KigeziNdoto. Loosely translated it means looking into our dreams… The play was staged in small town Kenya and Tanzania broken in three legs covering over !!!10,000kms!!!….it was hard work planning it…dealing with the widths and breadths and different dynamics of Kenya. This play took me to all parts of Kenya and Tanzania liaising with local communities, finding spaces and faces to attend and enjoy and share a moment of art interaction. Helping M ũ mbi and being part of this tour meant many things to me; I got to learn how to hit the road runn...