Friday 13 December 2013

Pain, Love and Poetry

I bleed from my heart.. Now that we're apart...

When I had you I thought it's forever.. Now it's clear it was never...

Loving you was all I could try.. But each time you looked me in the eye you fed me more lies...

Your embrace and tender kiss.. Just the things am sure gonna miss...

Thinking about you my thoughts run few.. You know I loved you, you know it's true...

These eyes were never ment to cry.. I won't waste a single tear saying bye...

I know love is blind.. Coz I have you on my mind...

Though the pain's so deep.. Wounds heal but the scars we keep...

Pain, Love and Poetry... 

Wednesday 11 December 2013

He Lived Among Us - Tribute to Nelson Mandela, by Wayne Visser


HE LIVED AMONG US

By Wayne Visser

Tribute to Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

He lived among us –
This child named Rolihlahla
This boy called Nelson
This man we knew as Mandela –
And now he is gone

He shared our days –
This son of Africa, our Madiba
This father of a nation, our Tata
This guardian of humanity, our Elder –
And now he is gone

He was one of us –
This shepherd of the people
This harbinger of hope and joy
This legend of our time and place –
And now he is gone

He was our leader
Our defender, our nation’s spear
And he showed us how to fight

He was our enemy
Our nemesis, our conscience
And he showed us how to be free

He was our light
Our sun, our inspiration
And he showed us how to forgive

Yet did we ever really know him?
This lawyer who became an outlaw
This soldier who became a peacemaker
This prisoner who became a liberator

How can we fathom his depths?
This father who lost a son and wife
This comrade who lost so many friends
This martyr who lost twenty-seven years

How can we see into his heart?
This intellectual who became an activist
This statesman who became a gardener
This icon who became the world’s beloved

We remember him
For his skilful manoeuvring
Through the political maze
And even more for his love of dancing

We remember him
For his human touch
Among the powerful and powerless
And even more for his love of children

We remember him
For his human foibles
That made him fallible like us
And even more for his love of justice

He lived among us –
And now it is for us to carry his torch onward
It is for us to follow his shining example
It is for us to fight for his unshakeable ideals –
Now that he is gone

He shared our days –
And now we must make the rest of our days count
We must work as he did to set others free
We must show that the spirit can triumph in the end –
Now that he is gone

He was one of us –
And now we are challenged to become one of him
We are inspired to be the best we can be
We are reminded that ‘I am because we are’ –
Now that he is gone

Nkosi Sikelel’iMandela!
We will honour his memory
By never losing faith in times of adversity
We will celebrate his life
By always daring to hope for a miracle
We will keep his legacy alive
By choosing to walk daily in his footsteps
On the path of love

Amandla! Awethu!

---
Image credits: Painting by Alfred Hilton (c) 2013

Tuesday 17 September 2013

African Dream - London Concert

Join us for a concert celebration of AFRICA!
Words Images Music
Poetry by Wayne Visser Photography by Bob Webzel
Paul Cheneour on Flutes Lennie Charles on Percussion
Saturday 16 November 2013, 7.00 pm
St Marks Church, Myddelton Square, London EC1R 1XX
Admission £10.00. Books and CDs available for sale



Sunday 23 June 2013

I Am Art

Picasso of my own life
I have mastered the art of painting a smile on my face
Convincing my brain that my heart is fine...
While its not, even though its just a phase
Sometimes it feels like it will never pass
And I'm living a lie
But wait? Who can say its a lie if its happening outward?
Who can see the broken paint brushes I use
While they are caught in awe by the beauty of the canvas?
I've become an artist of my own life
With broken brushes and dark colours
I still manage to paint a bright picture
Even though its hard for me atleast it brings joy to the one who's looking at it
My masterpiece, a smile from a frown
A laugh from a cry!
-Hlogi

Monday 22 April 2013

Free Us To Be Free, by Wayne Visser

Free us to be free –
Because so much progress
Has been blind to our beauty
Because so much advice
Has been deaf to our song
And we will only be free
When we take responsibility
For ourselves

Free us to be free –
Because so many leaders
Have been corrupted by power
Because so many followers
Have been weakened by need
And we will only be free
When we write the history
Of our people

Free us to be free –
Because we are out of sync
With the beat of the world
Because we are out of step
With the march of civilization
And we will only be free
When we dance the melody
Of our land

Free us to be free –
Because too many problems
Began as gifts from others
Because too many solutions
Have not been home grown
And we will only be free
When we follow the decree
Of our hearts

So if you really care
As much as you say
Pray, let us go
To find our own way
Free us to be free –
Free to fly the nest of ideology
Free to fight for the dreams
Of our children

Copyright (c) 2013

Monday 25 March 2013

Oración por África por Wayne Visser


Querido Dios,
por el amor de África,
escucha mis plegarias.

África es la cuna de tu creación.
Por lo tanto dame paciencia.
para fomentar el crecimiento y la bondad
en esta gran tierra.

África es el arco iris de tus cielos.
por lo tanto, concédeme tolerancia,
para celebrar las diferencias y la diversidad,
a lo largo de este ancho continente

África es el tambor de tu corazón.
por lo tanto, concédeme valor
para ofrecer consuelo y compasión
en la cara de los ensayos de su gente

A los prisioneros de la pobreza en África
déjame brindarles la libertad de elección
y al desierto de su sufrimiento
corrientes frías de alivio,

A los túneles de engaño en África,
déjame brindarles lamparas de verdad
y a las selvas de sus conflictos,
banderas de reconciliación.

A las cuevas de desesperación en África
déjame llevarles voces de esperanza
a los pantanos de su miedo
susurridos de confort

Donde sea que África enseña a sus niños
compartir las lecciones de mi pasado desvanecido
y donde estén los sueños del mañana
pon mis pies en la senda del progreso.

Donde sea que África eleve a sus lideres
juzga mi apoyo por las voces democráticas
y donde se respire en comunidad
únete a mi aliento con inspiración.

Donde sea que África aprecie su desierto
marca mi celebración de la generosidad de la naturaleza
y donde ella cuide de su gente
observa mi espíritu hincharse con amor.

Por el amor de África
Escucha mi plegaria
Querido Dios.

Copyright 2008

Traducido del Inglés por Maria Florencia Segura

Thursday 21 March 2013

Africa Proud (Wallpaper Image)

The talented artist, Alfred Hilton, has kindly allowed me to use one of his paintings (inspired by my friend Peace Nganwa) for this wallpaper image of my poem, Africa Proud. Feel free to share, pin, etc.


Sunday 24 February 2013

AFRICA PROUD by Wayne Visser


As always, my visit back to the continent has inspired me to write.

AFRICA PROUD
By Wayne Visser

I stand upright and tall -
No more bowed back
No more bent knees
I look straight ahead -
No more downcast eyes
No more cowering glances
For I am Africa Proud

See me:
My name is Africa
And I am rising to greet you
I am leading the way
And I am Proud

Extend me your hand -
In friendship, not pity
In peace, not trickery
Send me your prayers - In communion, not guilt
In hope, not resignation
For I am Africa Proud

Hear me: My name is Africa
And I am calling to welcome you
I am waiting to embrace you
And I am Proud

I dance wild and free -
No more slave chains
No more puppet strings
I sing loud and strong -
No more lamentation
No more discord
For I am Africa Proud

Feel me:
My name is Africa
And I am drumming to wake you
I am singing to inspire you
And I am Proud

Bring me your gifts -
Of fair trade, not charity
Of respect, not advice
Show me your spirit -
Of community, not greed
Of faith, not fear
For I am Africa Proud

Join me:
My name is Africa
And I am seeding the future
I am shining with beauty
And I am Proud

(2013)

Friday 8 February 2013

Deep In Her Eyes


So much pain in her eyes
You could swear the sun will never shine
She walks the street flashing a smile like she’s fine
Look at her, there’s so much pain in her eyes
No one can see how she cries inside
They are white as snow
Shiny as glory
Her eyes so beautiful, but look at them
And see what is in them
So much pain in her eyes, but she keeps on fighting the darkness
Because she knows someday the light will again shine

-Hlogi

Thursday 24 January 2013

I Am An African - literacy project

Kids from Upendo Middle Primary School in Usa River Tanzania read Wayne Visser's poem "I am an African." Upendo Middle Primary recently received 60 Kindle E-readers as Worldreader's first e-reader project in Tanzania.

Friday 18 January 2013

Killer Smile


She looks you in the eyes and flashes a smile
Whispers in your ears, words sound sweet
Friend… Confidant
Holding a knife behind her back
Ready to slip it into yours
Holding you in her hand, up high
Ready to let you down
She looks you in the eyes and flashes a smile
Whispers in your ears, words sound sweet
Friend… Sister
Setting a plan in her mind
Ready to make you stumble
Setting trap in her twisted mind
Ready to make you fall
She looks you in the eyes, full of pretense
Whispers in your ears, full of deceit
You see a friend, but she’s a foe
You see a confidant, but she’s an enemy
She’s ready to stab you in your back once you turn your back
She’s ready to let you down once you put your trust in her
She’s ready to make you stumble
While you’re trying to find your balance
She’s ready to make you fall just so you can remain standing
She whispers sweet nothings in your ears
She looks you in the eyes and flashes a killer smile

-Hlogi