Poetry Night in Dar es Salaam

Comfort Zone - A Poem by Prof Richard Mabala

FROM FACEBOOK

Comfort Zone

By Richard Mabala 

First they came for the big guys
They were all fisadis
But I am not a fisadi so why should I speak out?
Even if no evidence has been given against them
We were told they were fisadis
What greater evidence do you want?
Silently I applauded.

Then they came for the artists
Decadent artists leading immoral lives
Why should I support them?
No evidence again but God had spoken
I said not a word.

Of course they came for the gays
Even wanted to publicly declare their names
Even more disgusting than the artists
I don't care whether they do it in private or not
They deserve it.
No need to speak out

They also came for the activists
Those arrogant unelected nobodies
Pushing their own agendas as if they were the people's choice
They had to be silenced
So silent I remained.

Then they came for an Asian
These Asians, don't we know them
They are just exploiting us
How can he claim to be a citizen like me?
A proud Tanzanian
So what if he was a councillor in my own party
Why should I speak for these exploiters?
And anyway I support that other team
Too patriotic to support him or his team.
So no need to speak out
Even if there seems be a vendetta against him
For daring to threaten the son of God
Silence is golden

Then they came for the opposition.
Why should they go on politicking even after the election.
Throw them in jail
And keep them there to show our leaders brook no opposition
Opposition disrupts their good intentions.
Troublemakers.
They deserve to stay in jail
I said nothing

The same is true of those people
Who used unbecoming language
On Facebook
They should have known better
They were warned
But still the persisted.
Why should I speak in their favour

Then they came for the lawyers
Especially those dumb oppositionist lawyers
Wanting to take over their association
And become activist
Activist? Really?
We know those lawyers are just after money
And power
Corrupt.
Surely they can defend themselves anyway.
Say nothing.

Then they came for their own party members
Ha ha ha. You see their foolishness
Fraternising with the enemy when politics is no longer about adversaries
But enemies.
They couldn't even see which way the wind is blowing
And bow before it
They were flattened
And I will never say a word
Even if they belonged to my party
Unlike them, I am loyal
Always loyal.

But hang on
What are those boots outside my door?
What have I done?
HELP! Will someone speak out for me?
I have done nothing.
Why the silence?
Am I the only one left?

Shairi - Tuacheni Jamani - Mauaji Tarime!

TUACHENI JAMANI!

Tuacheni jamani!
Polisi tuacheni
Serikali tuacheni
Yenu kazi tayari
Iliyobaki ni yetu!

Sisi ndio wafiwa Tarime
Walioporwa uhai wa ndugu
Uhai wa vijana wabichi

Tuacheni sisi
Sisi ndio wafiwa
Kazi yenu tayari
Ile ya kuua
Kazi yetu yaja:
Kulia, kulaani,
kuomboleza na kuzika.

Tuacheni tulie
Hata kulia mwazuia?
Tuacheni tunune
Hata kununa mwazima?
Tuacheni tuzike
Hata kuzika mkwara mwaweka?

Serikali na polisi
Msingeua tusingelia
Msingeua tusingenuna
Msingeua tusingezika
Tuacheni, tuacheni.

Lenu mmemaliza
Kuua mkilinda nyang'au
Mkilinda mporaji
Mnyakuzi wa mali ya Tarime
Mali ya Tanzania
Tuacheni
Kutuchefua acheni.

Mwizi mkubwa mwalinda
Mwenye mali mwaua
Kwa ujira gani mwatenda
Unyama usio mithili
Mijitu yachota utajiri
Kwao yajenga mbingu
Ninyi: Kwenu
Hapa kwenu, miayo yatanda
Zaidiyo mwaua wanenu
Wezi wa nje kulinda. Tuacheni!

Mmemaliza kezi yenu
Kuua, kulinda nyang'au
Sasa amri mwatoa:
Lia hivi, nuna hivi...Ebo!
Na udikiteta una mipaka.

Tuache tunune kwa ngeli yetu
Tuache tujute kwa mazoea yetu
Tuache!

Tuache tulie machozi yetu
Yatiririke mashavuni mwetu
Yaloanishe vifua vyetu
Yaondoe hasira zetu

Tuache tukunje wafu wetu
Tubebe kwa njia zetu
Tusindikize kwa ngeli zetu
Tuzike mashambani kwetu
Tuache!

Acha Tarime wazike
Wazike kwa mila zao
Kwa uzito wa uchungu wao
Kwa kina cha chuki yao
Kwa wingi wa hasira zao.
Tuacheni jamani!

Hata baada ya kuua
Wakilinda wezi
Wanataka tulie roborobo
Tunune nusunusu
Tuchukie roborobo
Tukasirike nusunusu
Tulaani roborobo
Tushutumu nusunusu
Tuzike juujuu
Au nasi tuuawe moja kwa moja.
Tuacheni jamani.

Tarime zikeni.
Tundu Lissu zika
Marando Nyaucho zika
Zikeni vijana wenu
Kwa ngeli yenu
Kwa ngeli ya wakazi
Wanavyotaka
Wanavyojisikia

Tuacheni jamani
Polisi kaa mbali
Serikali jitengeni
Kazi mliyojipa tayari
Ilobaki ni ya walioumia
Waliopoteza
Tuacheni jamani!

Imetungwa na Ndimara Tegambwage

JERUSALEM - Shairi

JERUSALEM

Imejengwa kinadhifu, waislamu tujivunie
Mji huu mtukufu, Illaahi tubarikie
Amani ni fursa adhim, jerusalem tuililie

Wakati umewadia, jerusalem itun'garie
Rehma kutufikia, na mema tujifanyie
Tuwache yenye udhia, umoja tujivunie
Amani ni fursa, adhim jerusalem tuililie

Masjid al-aqsa, ziara tujifanyie
Mola ameitakasa, Wajibu tujivunie
Al-quds ya sasa, twende tukajionee
Amani ni fursa, adhim jerusalem tuililie

Kwenye Kisa cha miraj, sote tukifatilie
Ardhi na mbigu siraj, Alipita Rasulie
Baada ya ile hajj, Jerusalem tukatembee
Amani ni fursa adhim, jerusalem tuililie

Tawhid na imani, sote tujihimizie
Kamba yaa ikhwan, wajib tushikilie
Hii itajenga imani, umoja itupatie
Amani ni fursa adhim, jerusalem tuililie

Jamii palestina, ya rabi wajaalie
Subra nayo neema, dhambi uwaghufurie
Uwapatie Rehma, amani uwatandie
Amani fursa adhim, jerusalem tuililie

Shairi si fani yangu, wajibu munikosoe
Hili ni la kwanza langu, hivyo munisaidie
Nakiri makosa yangu, ya illahi nighurufie
Amani ni fursa adhim, jerusalem tuililie

Imetungwa na:

Dr. Amur Abdullah Amur

Best Poem in the World

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

It was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics, and the “trash.”

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who stole my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on a cloud,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
None thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!

Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

And a church is NOT a museum of saints

but a hospital for sinners

Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!

Now it's your turn... Share this poem.

Tiger Woods na Father Krismasi

Tiger Woods' Holiday Poem


"Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house,

Came Tiger a flyin', while chased by his spouse.

She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry,

'Cause a bimbo’s phone number was in his Blackberry.


He’d cheated on Elin, and the story progressed.

Gal after gal stepped up and confessed.


He’d been cheatin’ with Holly, and Jaimee, and Cori,

With Joselyn, and Kalika . . . The world heard the story.


From the top of the Tour to the basement of blues,

Tiger’s sad sordid tale was all over the news.


With hostesses & waitresses, he had lots of sex,

When not in their pants, he was sendin' them texts.


Despite all his cryin’ and beggin' and pleadin',

Tiger’s wife went and bought a new home in Sweden.


And I heard her exclaim from her white Escalade,

"If you’re getting laid? Then I’m getting paid."


No, she’s not pouting, she's full of good cheer.

Her pre-nup made Christmas come early this year

Hater - A Poem by Maya Angelou

Hii poem/shairi imetungwa na mtunzi maarufu Maya Angelou. Mjue kuwa hata waMarekani weusi wanatatizo kubwa ya chuki na wivu. Msidhani hiyo tatizo iko Afrika tu!

***********************************************************************

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all
their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.
They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever
good enough! When you make your mark, you will always attract some
haters…That’s why you have to be careful with whom you share your
blessings and your dreams, because some folk can’t handle seeing you
blessed…

It’s dangerous to be like somebody else…

If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given
you what He gave them! Right? You never know what people have gone
through to get what they have.

The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but
they don’t know my story… If the grass looks greener on the other side
of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there
too!

We’ve all got some haters among us! People envy you because you can:

Have a relationship with God
Light up a room when you walk in
Start your own business
Tell a man / woman to hit the curb (if he / she isn’t about the right thing)
Raise your children without both parents being in the home

Haters can’t stand to see you happy, Haters will never want to
see you succeed, Haters never want you to get the victory, most of our
haters are people who are supposed to be on our side. How do you handle
your undercover haters?

You can handle these haters by:

1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are *(VERY IMPORTANT!!)
2. Having a purpose to your life? Purpose does not mean having a job.
You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having
a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not
defined by what others think about you.
3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not
human manipulation. Fulfill your dreams!

You only have one life to live…when it’s your time to leave this earth,
you ‘want’ to be able to say, ‘I’ve lived my life and fulfilled
‘my’ dreams,… Now I’m ready to go HOME! When God gives you favor, you can
tell your haters, Don’t look at me…Look at Who is in charge of me…’

Maya Angelou

http://simplybold.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/a-hater-by-maya-angelous

Shairi - Amina Hayupo Tena

Amina Chifupa aliwatembelea waginjwa hospitali ya Amana, Ilala, Dar es Salaam
(Photo from Jiachie (Michuzi Jr.) Blog)


Amina Hayupo Tena

Imetungwa na Fahdili Mtanga

Nasikia radioni, Amina hayupo tena,
Ninashindwa kuamini, umetutoka Amina,
Amina wetu jamani, Amina wetu Amina,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Mola wetu tusikie, twaja kwako Maulana,
Amina tumlilie, mbunge wetu vijana,
Faraja utupatie, usiku hata mchana,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Amina mbunge wetu, tuliyekupenda sana,
Uliyeonesha utu, kwa wazee na vijana,
Uliyekuwa mwenzetu, tena bila ya hiyana,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Amina ulitujali, tukakupenda kwa sana,
Juhudi zako za kweli, zilikubalika sana,
Mola wetu mfadhili, lini tutamwona tena?
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Umetuacha jamani, twakulilia Amina,
Ni vigumu kuamini, kuwa hatukwoni tena,
Majonzi yetu moyoni, mbona ni makubwa sana,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Twashindwa kuelezea, jinsi inavyotuuma,
Ni vigumu kuzowea, kupoteza kitu chema,
Wewe ulijitolea, ukweli ukausema,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Amina bado kijana, umetuacha mapema,
Ndoto zako nyingi sana, ukaamua kusoma,
Kwa marefu na mapana, uiongeze hekima,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Amina muongeaji, waongea kwa hekima,
Wewe mshereheshaji, Amina ukawa mama,
Amina mpiganaji, vita sasa waitema,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Amina tulikupenda, ukawa rafiki mwema,
Ona sasa umekwenda, kwa heri hujaisema,
Mauti yamekutenda, basi uende salama,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Pole wanafamilia, pole Tanzania nzima,
Sote tunakulilia, utakumbukwa daima,
Wewe umetangulia, nasi twaja tuko nyuma,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.

Mola akupumzishe, peponi mahala pema,
Nasi tukajikumbushe, dunia siyo salama,
Mola wetu tuepushe, na hicho chako kiyama,
MOLA UMLAZE PEMA, RAFIKI YETU AMINA.


Fadhili Mtanga,
http://www.fadhilimshairi.blogspot.com/
Dar es Salaam.