involvement.damugeltd.co.ke

Category: Fiction

  • USICHEZEE BAHATI

    USICHEZEE BAHATI

     

    Na ABDUL SHABAN

    {abdoolmtyro@gmail}

     

    Wewe si mzuri sana, punguza kuniringia

    Wazuri nimewaona, sura zao zavutia

    Na mengi wewe hauna, ila nimewakimbia

    Moyo umekuchagua, kwako ni kama bahati.

     

    Wangapi wamenitaka, watukufu wa tabia

    Warembo waloumbika, wakiniona hulia

    Nawakataa hakika, ni kwako nakimbilia

    Moyo wangu waugua, nimekupenda banati.

     

    Nimesema nakupenda, si vyema kuninunia

    Wenzako wananiganda, mapenzi kuyalilia

    Nawe waleta mapozi, bahati imekujia

    Uache kunizingua,usichezee bahati.

     

    Sina nyumba wala mali,ni mbora wa tabia

    Nina mapenzi ya kweli, si kwamba najisifia

    Ila najua kujali, kutunza kuhudumia

    Juu yako kuchagua, sijesema ya laiti.

     

  • IF I DIE YOUNG

    IF I DIE YOUNG

    By Abdul Shaban

    [abdoolmtyro@gmail.com]

     

    Floating at the river

    Thousand poems of a believer

    Cigarettes burns the liver

    Held by demons none to deliver

     

    Here comes my lover

    Who blows up my cover

    White, red flowers of clover

    They are my favourite flowers

     

    Lie them on the grave

    Pour your tears of grief

    Tell my love I was brave

    “Yes whisper to my grave”

     

    I did not finish my race

    Too young to lose my face

    Ooh please grant me this grace

    Visit me forever in here my place

     

    Take my poems to archives

    Let them change millions lives

    Let them be your daily chives

    Do it to remember my lasting vibes

     

    Don’t come to my funeral

    Let it be for the world in general

    That I wasn’t your all in all

    Put my picture at the cathedral

     

    Don’t take my picture and post

    I’m still young to be lost

    I’m still young to die young

    But if I die young…keep this love

     

    Still young

     

  • Nature

    Nature

     

    By Abdul Shaban

    abdoolmtyro@gmail.com

     

    Hear the wind roar with its numbing sound,

    Nature lions roar as it shakes the ground.

     

    Nature is full of beauty and danger as well,

    From radiant meadows to the desert hell.

     

    The ice so cold it can freeze you to the core.

    Whilst beautiful snowflakes carpet the floor.

     

    We take nature for granted we see it each day,

    And it’s beauty is always on display.

     

    Why are we so  dismissive when trees and flowers bloom,

    We walk around in despair and gloom,

     

    Yet all around us fields of gold,

    Watching natures beauty unfold.

     

    As it creates patterns so exquisite so precise.

    Plants with such fragrant spice.

     

    Perfume that so intense.

    That surrounds every sense.

     

    We are surrounded its fragrance captures our soul,

    We are hypnotised we have lost control.

     

    As the clouds above pass us by,

    Do we look up at the sky?

     

    Do we notice nature at all!

    Do we hear it’s wondrous call?

     

    As leaves turn from green into red,

    Nature sleeping , it isn’t dead.

     

    Winter spring summer or fall,

    It is there , there for us all.

  • Sunset Fantasy

    Sunset Fantasy

    By Chelangat Caren

     

    Breathtakingly view to stare at

    The sunset

    Beautiful flakes doting the sky

    The sun kissing the horizon

    The sun retires with an orange colour

    Casting its rays on the blue calm sea

    Beyond the horizon

    Light surrenders to darkness

    And the mysterious moon

    Takes it reign to cast the siphoned rays

    Craving so much

    Yet so little

    Imagine wildly

    With the imagination radiating

    Fantasize a life

    Where I sail to the Bahamas

    Where I get to go to Canada

    Where I immerse my soul deep into creativity

    My soul into fashion

    And art galleries  around the world

    Like I always wanted

    Tour the world

    Eiffel tower and among many

    Learn various languages

    Learn cultural values

    And spice it up a little

    With my bucket list ideas

    Love the kind of love

    Not fabricated

    By the notion of fairytale.

  • It Was All Pomp And Colour At Daystar Talanta

    It Was All Pomp And Colour At Daystar Talanta

    By Kenedy Mwololo

    (kenedymwololomuuo@gmail.com)

    In a week packed with endless assignments and group problems to tackle as lecturers desperately honor their end of semester, last-minute-rush, tradition to complete their remaining course works, I wouldn’t miss Daystar Talanta for anything.

    The amphitheater was prepped up for the event on July 22, and the podium beckoned for all who had been bitten by the showbiz bug to ascend it. Blue and yellow balloons adorned every pillar in the hall and some even made their way onto the stage where the stars would make their debuts.

    The flowing black background gave the stage a dignified look as cobalt blue and golden ribbons clung to it like stars in the night sky. The perfect arena for the perfect night!

    Sadly, the audience was a killjoy. I couldn’t help but pity the MCs who constantly screamed into their microphones to grab the stone crowd’s attention. Their reward was only one or two shouts from the female audience.

    It took an eternity for the performances to start and when they did, my adrenaline flowed in jets. The audience must have been experiencing the same since their enthusiastic roars, coupled with the Afro-beat music, kept me from hearing my own shrill.

    A dance group had slid its way into the stage and even my hard-to-impressed nature had to admit it was real talent. The next performance was spoken word which was performed in the most sophisticated voice my ears had ever had the pleasure of listening to. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the piece but it touched my heartstrings so deeply I doubt I will sleep poorly again.

    Only three performances stood out for me the most. The screams from the audience seemed to judge the performance long before the actual judges gave their take on the performance. It was obvious even to the dumbest fellow who would take the day and it was going to be a queen. The first one that impressed me was the dance crew led by the happy-footed chap whose alias is Patrobus. As I remarked earlier, that was real talent!

    The second one was the spoken word by the lady of the sophisticated voice. As a future teacher of English, I was in utter disbelief. Such grammar and articulation obviously deserved a prize. The audience however willed it to someone else; which brings me to my third performance. Shirlene is her name. They went wild before she even set foot on the stage. Her melodious voice seemed to enchant them as they showered her with cheers and chanted her name. That damsel can sing!

    The excitement reached a crescendo when controversial superstar, Eric Omondi, made a surprise appearance on the podium. His fashion style I will not discuss since I am a fashion illiterate. One daring damsel even took to the stage to ask for a selfie with him. Before the icon left, he played philanthropist and donated about 65,000 shillings to support two upcoming bands. One can only pray they grab the opportunity to reach the stars since fortune knocks once.

    Deshcare International also got a presentation on stage and I must say I will join them for the sanitary pads drive at Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi this weekend. I can hardly wait! The next performances boasted male soloists singing to the tune of skilled guitarists. The refreshments arrived just as the clock struck 11 PM. After a few solo performances, Noah Distributors and Horis Delivery, two business start-ups by Daystar students, gave video presentations of their services and I must say, I was greatly intrigued to try them and promote homegrown businesses.

    Time didn’t seem to matter anymore even as midnight approached. My mind was still unchanged though but the rest of the audience had made up their mind. I am sure the judges had too. The eye witness I had left behind to watch the event till its completion later informed me what i already knew. The last dance crew had floored the rest of their competition to bag 30,000 shillings. I do rather apologize to you, dear reader, for failing to mention the names of the lion-hearted youths that awed us with raw talent this evening. I was unfortunately forced into the back of the amphitheater where I could hardly hear those wielding the microphones.

    I speak for the rest of the audience when I say ‘Daystar has talanta’.

  • PERPETUALLY BEATING

    PERPETUALLY BEATING


    By Wangui Njau.
    (njaucatherine@gmail.com)

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of fineartamerica.com/

    Leaden is the heart.
    The heart sees the marvel in people,
    The heart refuses to give up on mankind,
    The heart that chooses to forget past wrongs,
    The heart chooses to love back.

    Leaden is the heart,
    The heart that loves even when not,
    For love bores no ill-will
    Even when wronged
    The heart chooses to love back.

    Heavy is the heart,
    Damning heart,
    I want you to always smile,
    Be fulfilled
    The heart chooses to love back.

    Leaden is my heart.
    The love given,
    Never received
    But in abundance it gives,
    For the world needs a little bit and a little more
    The heart always chooses to love back.

    The heart is what humanizes us. Being closed off to people, thinking that it makes you stronger, it makes you incapable. Because you will always be limiting yourself, you will always be holding back or holding out. There is ardour in sentiments.

    The same passion that brings forth growth in us, also brings innovation and bares creation. The heart allows us to commune, to love and be loved, to appreciate the things most precious in and to us.


    This doesn’t mean it has no risk; I’d be a charlatan if I told you otherwise. However, in order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.

    Therefore, you have to hurt in order to know, you have to fall in order to grow, lose in order to gain, because most of life’s lessons are learned in pain and only through embracing these experiences do we make peace with our hearts.

  • Adventure Time

    Adventure Time

    By Daniel Nyaga 

    (danielnyaga.dn@gmail.com)

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of weheartit.com

    “Daniel… Daniel!! You need to wake up and make breakfast. It’s ten o’clock.” Dad shouted as he knocked on my door.

    *Rolls over and checks the time on my phone* “Dammit it’s ten… What is wrong with you man? You have an appointment at 10:30 and, certainly, you won’t make it.”

    “Good job Daniel, “I muttered rather resigned.

    I sat there contemplating whether to get out of bed or go back to sleep. Finally, I threw back the covers and stood slouched beside the bed. “Looking hot as always,” I retorted rather sarcastically as I shuffled past the mirror and yawned my way downstairs to the kitchen to make a much-needed breakfast. Super emphasis on MUCH NEEDED HERE!!

    This is how most of my days go… They are normally between “Why do I have no control of my life?” to “I would love to have kids who are like me because I’m awesome.”

    And so after giving you a little preview of how my mornings do go, I will get to the main story.

    ”How does one become a butterfly?” Pooh asked pensively

    “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar,” Piglet replied.

    “You mean to die?” asked Pooh.

    “Yes and no,” he answered.

    “What looks like you will die, but what if you will live on.”

    A.A. Milne.

    Butterflies are very beautiful insects… I have one in my room called Brownie (I just came up with that) and she visits once in a while. However, what draws my attention and in a way makes me relate to Butterflies is how they love to fly. They enjoy the freedom and being able to “Adventure” if I may say… They are so graceful and majestic which makes watching them quite enjoyable. I enjoy freedom! I don’t like being confined. I love to spread my “wings” and fly… It gets my creative side kicking and makes me feel alive.

    What new adventures have you had in 2021? Let me rephrase that… “What have you done that is not part of your normal daily routine?” Are you experimenting? You only live once they say. Well, you only die once as well. I urge you who is reading this to kindly go out there (Observe COVID protocols of course) and make the rest of your year count. If you’ve been doing new stuff good for you!! If not “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?”

    Enjoy a good read, go to a jazz concert, run a marathon. Be random and enjoy every day like it will be your last. “Have fun and live a little. Because you know what? People are dying for you to live every day!! Because when you know your life is in danger, that’s when you start appreciating it. Then you discover you have cancer or other terminal illnesses you start living each day like it means something.” – Anonymous

    I choose to live by this and hope you will do so as well… It will be difficult at first due to the various responsibilities we all have but with time it will be much easier. You can start by going bowling with your friends once a week and different things will come along. Have fun and invest in yourself. Be a butterfly!!

    To many more adventures,

    Daniel .M. Nyaga

  • Tom & Jerry 

    Tom & Jerry 

    By Daniel Nyaga 

    (danielnyaga.dn@gmail.com) 

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of medium.com

    Crazy how time flies huh? The year is flying quite fast. 

    Lately, I have found myself watching Tom and Jerry a lot (I always watch it I’m just trying to cover up). How I love this Cartoon! It always cracks me up so much. I remember how I would wait for it to be aired on cartoon network each day from 4:15. The highlight of my day.

    Now, hold on, I know what you are thinking, “Seriously dude aren’t you too old to watch cartoons?” The answer to that is NO!!

    1) Cartoons are very entertaining (I highly recommend them).

    2) Tom and Jerry not only entertain me but teaches me a lot about life and especially friendship.

    Don’t you just love how Tom is always trying to hunt Jerry down? However, when Tom is sick who will be there to take care of him? You guessed right, it’s Jerry!

    So here is what I pick from it…

    Never give up – Each time Tom always tries to catch Jerry and most of the time he fails. However, this doesn’t deter Tom as he is always quick to strategize and try again. Never give up! You will fall severally but always strategize and get back out there.

    Tom & Jerry always fight but when times get tough they help each other out – We will always fight with the ones we love all the time but what matters is providing emotional security to them when times get tough. Do you offer a shoulder to lean on?

    Size does not matter – Jerry always uses his mind to beat Tom. It does not matter how small or voiceless you might think you are. All that matters is how you think and what you believe you are capable of doing. SIZE DOES NOT MATTER!

    Confidence is important – I love how Jerry always walks out of his house without caring where Tom is with the main objective being getting cheese from the fridge. If we could have this confidence in our lives we could be far. Don’t worry about others or what might go wrong. Be confident that you will succeed and you too will get your “cheese”

    Have a nice month! Blessings to you all.

  • A LETTER TO MY FIRST LOVE

    A LETTER TO MY FIRST LOVE

    By Daniel Nyaga

    (danielnyaga.dn@gmail.com)

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of pinterest.com

    There’s something about Antique shops that captivates me.

    I guess it’s all the cool stuff they’ve got… Mostly carvings!!

    As I was walking around, this map of Africa caught my eye

    And I couldn’t help but think of our beautiful continent for a moment… I hope you enjoy the piece. 

    Oh, my Africa!!!

    How beautiful are you?

    You are a blessed continent, curved out of glory.

    The birds chirp each morning, singing a beautiful song

    The lion roars deep in the wild, as the king of the jungle.

    A land of milk and honey, where culture, heritage, and tradition are ever-flowing…

    Oh, my Africa!!

    You are a land of great heroes.

    A land of constant opportunities.

    Blessed with diversity in people…

    When will you awake my dear Africa?

    When, oh when will you stop subjecting us to these pains? 

    Oh, my Africa!!

    We are a free continent yet subjected ourselves to be slaves once more.

    Constantly killing our brothers and sisters…

    All for the name of power!

    Oh, dear…

    When will you realize that this is a train that won’t stop moving?

    Why be distracted by irrelevant issues without seeing you’ve got passengers determined for the journey? 

    Oh, my Africa!!!

    You’re full of your splendor and beauty, yet this not what you portray outside.

    You have become a den of hungry lions… Where the most powerful wants to enjoy the biggest chunk of the dead carcass on his own…

    Stop being ignorant!!

    You are the richest land for others, but hell for our mothers and children!! 

    Oh, my Africa!!!

    When will you stop harrowing in poverty?

    You have an embarrassment of talent. 

    You have all the arsenals to win this battle. However, you choose to walk around naked and not bothered by the shame and ridicule you bring.

    You are blessed with natural resources, yet the financial benefit is claimed by outsiders. Your wildlife is breath-taking, yet you kill them in exchange for money…. When will you arise my dear?

    Why eat alone when we can all share?

    Wake up dear loved one!!!

    Wake up!! 

    Oh, my Africa!!!

    In War or poverty, I love you.

    With democracy or forced dictatorship, I still love you.

    With all the hopelessness and negativity around, my love for you still remains.

    I hope you will one day reciprocate my love to you.

    That selfishness will not be what rules our continent…

    That love for power and money will not be an issue…

    I pray that Africa may once again redeem its glorious splendor, and be viewed for the beautiful continent it is…

    Where growth, brotherhood, culture, and heritage are the order of the day

    Oh, my Africa!!

    I was born here…

    I long for the day our beauty will be admired by all.

    I long for the day you will be a pillar and example to the rest of the continents.

    How long will it take?

    However, like a bride who waits for her groom… So will I wait for you!

    Oh, my Africa! 

  • THE CLOSE STRANGER

    THE CLOSE STRANGER

    By Daniel Nyaga

    (danielnyaga.dn@gmail.com)

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of aa.com.tr

    There she stood…

    Short midnight-black hair, sassy but a beautiful smile.

     She had saccharine sweet lips which were lilac soft.

     Her skin shined like a thousand splendid suns.

     I admired in silent admiration afraid to utter a word…

    I finally gathered the courage to speak but to my dismay,

    She was brutal with her words. Completely unreceptive and unwelcoming to strangers.

    She was quite feisty If I may say… Though there was just something about her that fascinated me…

    Was it the puzzle of figuring her out?

     Or was I just another one of her victims?

    Our conversations were like an old, spiteful, English couple who would banter all day…

    Constantly trying to figure her out. Toiling each day to understand what goes on in her mind.

    She had built up walls that were hard to scale.

     Each time I would be close to reaching the top, she would increase the feet and I would be left with the insurmountable task of getting to the other side.

    Was she worth it? Why did she have some unexplainable power over me?

    Was my brain disconnected from my body and my heart the base of all logic?

    Days went by and our conversations became less awkward.

    I would spend hours in her presence without saying a word, though it would bring happiness that couldn’t be explained.

     She made me happy by just being there… We didn’t have to open our mouths, the silence often spoke more than enough…. It was beautiful!!

    Time went by and all I could do was sit here waiting…

    Waiting for you to notice that time is running out…

    Depending on how you’d wake up or what you’d be feeling.

    Each impulsive decision you made would constantly subject my heart to the constant throe of remorse…

    I never stood a chance!! Unable to figure you out and understand you…

    You would always change the lock to the door…

     I wish you didn’t have to leave but the date is set.

     Leaving me with a smile that struggles to be more than a grin.

    I’ve lost a piece and it’s impossible to bring it back.

     Inside I weep to conceal my pain…

     For how long? I don’t know…

    But In sadness I know that you will always be a close stranger!!!