Out of Africa
Karibu,
Jambo, shikamo, Marhaba, abariki, Ahsante saana
Warm
sands, the cool breeze blowing from the ocean of India.
Karibu
and welcome to Dar-us-Salaam,
A
tender gesture, a faint smile always a salaam
I
am no longer afraid of this race of man
Masaai,
clad in red, a spear in his hand
You
can spot him from a mile away, tall they stand
In
the plains of Serengetti , a wild
and mysterious land
Srengetti
, where the grass is waist high
Stirring
noiselessly by the gentle wind
Or
is there a lion or lioness walking by?
The
creation of Almighty,
Distant
mountains, the crater, a rushing river
Monkeys
jumping on the trees.
Confusion
of Darwin.
A
cheetah chasing a zebra
Only
the fittest will survive.
I
am a prisoner in my land rover.
This
land belongs to the elephants, the rhinos, the gnu
And
multitudes of birds of different colors.
The
roar of a lioness one very early
morning shakes my lodge
Is
she hungry or looking for her mate?
My
wife likes to think she is praying to Mungu.
Ah
the fruits!
Madaf
,duriyan, shokey shokey, jack fruit, mungusteen
Embe,
pineapple, passion fruit, mchungwa, papai, embe kezungu
So
many fruits with bright colors, juicy and flavorful
My
taste buds are in ecstasy.
Is
this heaven on earth?
The
turqoise blue waters of Zanzibar and shimmering white sands
A
perfect way to unwind.
Rushing
and receding waters wooing the shores
Like
a lover wooing a beloved.
Receding
waters miles away from the shores.
Like
a dejected lover
Leaving
the gifts of amazing shells.
Fishermen
in their boats
Catching
the day’s bounty, samaki
Sunburned
but not a care in their hearts.
They
know the ocean waters
Like
I know the roads in my city
In
the city a familiar sight
Of
ridas and topies, mumeneen
Busy
in their shops usiku na Mchana
But
never busy enough to please a foreigner like me.
Africa
, no more a dark continent
I
will never forget you, you are Mzuri
Your
warm shores, smiles of your people,
The
distant drums of the tribes, the roar of a lion.
Life
may keep me busy
But
the thought that you are there
Will
always make me happy, Mbariki.
I
shall return to you again, Inshallah
This
shikamo of Aqa Maola (TUS)
May
our Maula maisha marefu,
As
long as the gentle breeze blows
Over
the plains of Serengetti.
For
all my poems and madehs please go to < http://www.oocities.org/hjamali52
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