There is beauty in who we are.
Not men and women- children
whose souls go giddy
when our soles feet feel for the dew,
on fields of green
where our eyes stretch out to touch
the morning sun
on a park
where dreams are allowed to sleep.
There is beauty in what we love,
this part of Nairobbery
where love is allowed to pluck a rose,
where the only Estate that is real
is your state of mind
as it gasps for
the only pure air
in this city where
it’s a crime
to breathe free air.
There is beauty in what we are
rebels, radicals, believers,
lovers, optimists, ungovernables.
Our blood burns through our veins
with the spirit
that led our warrior to battlefields.
Her Maji Maji rebellion made it rain
on fields of brown
on jungles
where rocks grow through steel.
Yet still,
her rose now chokes.
Her rose,
now the heroes
yet still,
they can’t breathe.
We rose
yet still,
We. Can’t. Breathe.
All Rights Reserved ©Njeri Wangarì Wanjohi
2nd November 2019
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Njeri Wangarĩ is an acclaimed Kenyan poet, writer, author, editor and communications specialist whose work and interest focus on the intersection between technology, arts, culture, media and the creative economy. With a multi-faceted career spanning over 18 years, she is passionate about telling stories that challenge conventional wisdom about Africa. Her feature articles have appeared in numerous regional and global publications and her performances have graced stages across 4 continents.
Njeri has authored a poetry anthology- Mines & Mind Fields; My Spoken Words. She recently ventured her writing into children’s biography and historical based fictional storybooks.
She wrote the poem There is Beauty in memory and celebration of Wangarì Maathai, her fighting spirit to ensure that our children, grandchildren and great children get to enjoy nature, to see the beauty of their country Kenya and learn the importance of taking care of the environment.