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)

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

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.

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

no title

this poem has no title, these words have no identity

these ideas have no limits, they're vital

pushing the bounds of creativity, this piece has no morality

coz i do not have to rhyme my piece for it to be considered poetry

with all due respect, i write what i feel, i write what is real

i dont write for the thrill, these words pay my bills

if i had to chose the love of my life, you better not count your self in

this is the real deal,

poetry to the death of me

Its vanity.. its like chasing the wind but you cant catch it...

its not Reality tv  that has made you an addict...

no Tv screens and movie thrills...

these Wanting the life of stacking dollar bills...

am Living like a model popping all those skinny pills...

i live like a poet, one word at a time

woman in flight

Woman in flight, like a feather in the wind

I love her despite, the empty promises she uses to bind

She changes her mind, and her voice is always sweet

She leads me blind, like a fire she’s the heat

She has a pretty voice, in tears and in laughter

I have no choice, I keep on chasing after

I can’t rejoice,  I’m a slave and she’s my master

But she is always lying, always a miserable character

Who can trust her, who can ever be happy with her

Who can love her, who can ever be loving to her

I concur, i’m an amateur to her

But it will never occur, that she is the one i prefer

Woman in flight, like a feather in the wind

He has a pretty voice, always gentle always sweet

the true maning of love

La Amour...

Mapenzi...

Amore...

Love...

In every language you say,

 it sounds sweet any day

Love is an emotion of strong affection and attraction

It is the intimate addiction to the one

The one you give all your heart, the one you promised never to be apart.

Love is a virtue of kindness and compassion,

 it is the unselfish devotion with vows of passion

love unleashes a variety of different feelings, feelings so real it’s more like healing

to a heart that has been chilling,

in the depths of the cold sea.

love is passionate, it is the closeness of being together

it is the  oneness of being in love, to hold and to have

love compares to survival instincts, that keep humans together

love is less of a sexual affair,

 it’s more of a punishment that you endure over and again because you care.

in love, you never fall,

 when you fall, it does not hurt

and when it hurts, you do not cry,

 because love conqures all.

whether rich or poor, on the beach or in the shower

whether short or tall, in winter or in fall

whether blind or deaf, insecure or feeling safe

all you need is love.

love is an international language that overrides all the cultural and linguistic illusions that represent our generation

love is reciprocated, it’s a mammalian drive like hunger or thirst

 call it lust, call it attachment,

 but i call it safety,

the security to say the words ’i love you’ and feel it, to say ‘i need you’ and see it.

love has taken control of my system, stimulating my brain’s pleasure center

i am so in love i get side effects

when i can’t eat, it’s because of you

when i can’t sleep, it’s because of you

when my heart beats, it’s because of you

when i stop to stare at another woman, it’s because of you

it’s because i know, she has nothing on you

the common ground for humanity, is the need and desire for love

love is timeless,

love is kind,

love and kindness are  never wasted, and so is time

so trust me when i say,

I LOVE YOU