EVEN FLOWERS KNOW THAT WATER IS USELESS WITHOUT ROOTS , livre ebook

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I sat on a mat beneath an imagined mango tree. There, the happiness and sorrows of my heart found a place as stories and poetry on paper. I joined the birds flying above the tree, singing Kiswahili songs that made me ululate. The tree danced from melodies of the heart, gifting ample juicy fruits to sate my longings.
Meanwhile, children skipped their favourite kamba game, and others raced on a wooden tricycle to catch a grasshopper. Our neighbour wafted soil scent as she wetted the mud floor before sweeping it. My body adorned in a pair of kanga, the breeze knew well of the nostalgia I carry.
It was not a dream. I was homesick, and only writing would remedy my longings.
Moving away from the land you were born in alters you into a migrant and a wanderer, seeking what is not fully known until experienced and missed.
This collection brings together various memories, experiences, and observations of my homeland, Tanzania. The subjects range from natural resources, love, food, and culture to self-pride. You will learn about the wealth and diversity of Tanzania’s people, culture, and natural resources. This book is an ode to Tanzania and a subtle memoir by its descendant.
*****
Gloria writes about Africa in all its brilliance and beauty with a pure vision and a complete lack of cliche. Her formidable control of language brings memories rushing out of the body - with faint smells and tiny sounds - with all the subtleness of real life. Derek Workman, Editor In Chief, The Kalahari Review
This book of poems will surely inspire the reader to think about who they are and where they come from, and be proud of their heritage. Even to those for whom poetry is not something they usually indulge in, these writings are meaningful and worth a look. Lee Ann, FirstEditing.com

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Poetry

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Publié par	AuthorHouse UK
Date de parution	25 juin 2023
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9798823083379
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0250€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

EVEN FLOWERS KNOW THAT WATER IS USELESS WITHOUT ROOTS
Poetry, Essays, and Stories

Gloria D. Gonsalves

AuthorHouse™ UK
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403 USA
www.authorhouse.co.uk
Phone: UK TFN: 0800 0148641 (Toll Free inside the UK)
UK Local: (02) 0369 56322 (+44 20 3695 6322 from outside the UK)

© 2023 Gloria D. Gonsalves. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/21/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-8336-2 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-8230-8337-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
CONTENTS
PART I
Let Me Drink Home Verses Before I Pass Out From Neglect

101 ON AFRICA
A HAUGHTY WOMAN
A POEM BEGINNING WITH A LINE BY NGUGI WA THIONG’O
A TALE OF LOVE
A WORD OF VALOUR
AFRICAN BLESSING
AFRICAN PRINCESS
AFRICAN VIOLET
AFTERNOON DREAMS
ASHA, THE BLIND MASSEUR
BABA KRISMASI
BAHATI THE COW
BOARDING SCHOOL
CHARCOAL IRON
CHICKEN SOUP PRAYER
CORN RHYME
DAUGHTER OF CONFIDENCE
DID YOU HEAR HIM?
DIRECTIONS TO HOME
DIRISHANI (BY THE WINDOW)
DISCO INFERNO
ENGAGEMENT RING
EPIC OF BOB JUNIOR
FLOOR ARRANGEMENT FOR MEALS
GONE TO THE BEACH, BACK WITH REGRET
GHAZAL OF PRYING
GRANDMA’S DENTAL DRILL
HAIKUS FROM KILIMANJARO
HAIRY PREDICAMENT
HERE AWAY FROM THERE
HOME IN YELLOW
HOMECOMING IN RED
HOMEMADE FLAG
HOMESICK
HOME SPIRIT
HOUSEHOLD CHORES HAIKUS
HOW TO EAT A MANGO
I AM A CHILD OF TANZANIA
I DREAM
I LOVE AFRICA (A MEMORIAL)
IF I HAD YOUR FACE
IN HONOUR OF JULIUS K. NYERERE
IN THE EYES OF A CHILD
IT’S A WONDERFUL TIME FOR AFRICA
JE, WEWE NI NANI? (WHO ARE YOU?)
KITCHEN DWELLERS
KILI LEGEND
KITUMBUA CRAVER
LITANY OF HERITAGE
LOVE LETTER TO UGALI
MADAME OKRA SPOKE
MAMA NI HIFADHI YA MWANGAZA (MOTHER IS A RESERVOIR OF LIGHT)
MAMA’S HUSBAND
MAKONDE BEAUTY
MALARIAL MEMORIES
MARIMBA FROM HEAVENS
MERMAID IN THE SKY
MKEKA WANGU (MY MODEST MAT)
MOLAR PLEASURE
MOTHER FLAG OF TANZANIA
MOTHER’S SPINE
MUSES ON AFRICAN FATHERHOOD
MYSTERIES OF A MAIDEN IN KANGA
NAMING SKIT
NUNDA
ODE TO TANZANIA
ODE TO CHAI
ODE TO GUAVA
ON THE SISAL MAT
OUR TANZANITE
PANGANI RITUAL
PRAISE BE TO THE FISH HEAD
PRICKLY POPPY
PRIDE WORN BY A TEMPLE
REMEMBER THOSE DAYS
RETURN TO SENDER
RUBAIYAT FROM AFRICA
SAHARAN SUMMON
SAVING LOVE
SIMBA, THE FIERCE DOG
SPEECH LESSON
STRIPPING
TANZANIAN PRIDE
TANZANIAN FLAG
TEA OR COFFEE?
THAT PLACE WHERE RARITY IS
THE ANGELS WE SEE
THE ART OF PEELING AN ORANGE
THE COCONUT PALM OF LONGINGS
THE OLD DIALLING SERVICE
THE WHITE GOLD OF TANZANIA
THE WOMAN WAS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM
THIS WOMAN, OH!
THIS MOUNTAIN
TUZIBEBE KANGA ZETU (LET US CARRY OUR KANGAS)
UGALI EATERS
UNITED PEOPLE OF AFRICA
UNMAPPED
WE WERE MADE OF SPICES
WHAT LOSS DO THEY SEEK TO REDEEM THERE?
WHEN EVENING COMES (AN ELEGY)
WHERE LIFE RESTS AND RISES
WHO AM I?
YOUR SKIN IS PEACE

PART II
Let Me Eat Home Stories Before I Pass Out From Ignorance

AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE WIDELY KISWAHILI-SPEAKING EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
EULOGY FOR GABBY MGAYA
THE KANGA AS A WOMAN’S WEAPON
MAINTAINING THE KANGA STORYLINES AS ELOQUENT APHORISMS
THE VISIBLE AND HIDDEN CHARMS OF BUIBUI
THE HAPPY NAPPY HEAD
FESTIVE NOSTALGIA FOR A TANZANIAN CHRISTMAS
HAVE YOU CREATED LOVE IN THE KITCHEN YET?
A LESSON FROM COCONUT GRATER
KAMBA WA NAZI (PRAWNS IN COCONUT CURRY)
A LESSON FROM UGALI
MANGO NOIR
WHEN THE SUN IS EDIBLE
THE REAL HEROES OF MOUNT KILIMANJARO
IN YOUR LIFE TRAVEL, WHO DISCOVERED YOU?

NOTES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EXPLORE POETRY AND PROSE FROM OTHER COLLECTIONS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PART I
Let Me Drink Home Verses Before I Pass Out From Neglect
101 ON AFRICA

You have not explored enough
until your feet stride on her hidden jewels.

You have not awed enough
until your eyes behold the virgin beauty in her lands.

You have not loved enough
until your heart is loved by her people’s warmth.

You have not forgiven enough
until your acts are tested by her clemency.

You have not persevered enough
until your will has been tried by her burdens.

You have not been civil enough
until your soul accepts her as a birthplace of humankind.

Until then, you will have missed Africa.
A HAUGHTY WOMAN

My wide hips dance
to melodious tones
of my tight thighs.
I am a soprano
of unique creation.

My lips sing
a song of praise
about a mouth
whose thick flesh
I naturally possess.

My chest comforts
young and old
as they weep hard
on the soft wellness
of my big twos.

I possess not
the imposed numbers,
86-61-86,
but look a lot sexier
in my natural curves.

Oh!
Look at you
feeling all upset
about my pride.
Try to be yourself.
A POEM BEGINNING WITH A LINE BY NGUGI WA THIONG’O

Weep not, child,
for after the misery
is a bigger version
of your smallness.

Weep not, child,
because of them.
Heed the truth
of your spirit.

Weep not, child.
To live fully
is dwelling beyond
the suffering.

Weep not, child,
unless it is joy
for what is there
and what there is.
A TALE OF LOVE

Anuket, goddess of the Nile River and also
a goddess of lust, had a thought after seeing her
face image.

Her virgin reflection travelled down the river
to a warrior boy who dropped his shield to look
at her moon face.

Engai, the mother and father of rain, blushed his
face. The warrior boy travelled north to speak
to her Nubian face.
A WORD OF VALOUR

What frightens you, daughter from Africa?
I have walked and swelled upon length
of the longest river in your vast world.

I have loved with passion of rich harvest
and withered in the cold death of drought.
Yet, I still dwell in noble history of queens.

Raise yourself in majestic steps of courage;
dare taming the tales of a tempestuous lover
pulsating in the waters of your affluent veins.

There is nothing bolder than a will to live.
Neither failures nor death can erase you
as you live in brave acts of ink on papyrus.

I am no more with earthly silver and gold;
nonetheless returned to remind of swells
if you hold yourself high above the pyramids.

Walk surely above the giraffes and eagles.
Tell humiliators you reject seeing nothing lower
that robs your truth as an African descendant.
AFRICAN BLESSING

May the mountains, valleys, and
great waters sail you to greatness.
May the elephants, hippos, and
lions guide you to bold adventures.
May the exotic foods, drinks, and
fruits enrich you with organic life.
May the drums, marimbas, and
flutes unleash your hidden songs.
May the kings, queens, and
ancestors host you with dignity.
May you find hope, love, and
grace in the kingdoms of Africa.
AFRICAN PRINCESS

Her kinky and curly hair
shined from coconut oil.
Painted with black eyeliner,
her eyes seemed bigger,
radiating hallucinating effects,
like a full, bright moon.
Her lips were a soft pink,
like that of African violets
found on highlands
of the great Tanzania.
Black skin veiling her curves
outshined darkness,
glowing from avocado oil.
She smelled not of perfume,
but of the delicious aroma
from local delicacies
she made for her beloved
upon his return from fishing,
a duty he performed with pleasure
to feed her and their six children,
for she was his African Princess.
AFRICAN VIOLET

I lean and watch them speak
in tongues, royal purple tongues,
twirling in full, heart-shaped mouths:

mouths with curved-in lips,
some greener than others, serving
smooth words on velvet goblets:

goblets with five handles to hold
and drink life rife with status, like
queens and kings of ancient East Africa.

East Africa, was it home or roam?
Some cousins made it abroad, living
grandly on windowsills, not forests.

Forests in moist gowns and emerald crowns,
roots speaking in monarch’s tongues, daring
me to bow to the royal purple beneath.

Beneath, where life is rife with status,
my heart adores neither blue nor violet –
to praise is to daze.
AFTERNOON DREAMS

Afternoon dreams
lazing on a mat

weaving baskets
to don