Poem
Conarth Macheka
AS THE SUN SETS
I am wrapped in fearwhen the sun begins sink,
as light forsakes the earth
with the uncertainty of return.
I am afraid of raging rivers in the dark
flowing with such turbulence, like startled pythons, washing fish and everything away – sins, ethics –
to God knows where!
I am frightened by laughing hyenas
and barking jackals, creepy crawlies,
whispering trees, graveyard grass,
and wandering lifeless shadows.
I am terrified by the chuckling of witches – the heirs of gloom;
swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, trading in mid-air
crack, crack, crack you’d think they are breaking their brooms.
I am afraid to cough at night
lest I awake with no voice,
lest they take it to no man’s land.
I would never play with the sons and daughters of the lovers of darkness
because as the sun gives in to the hours of night,
when they decide to use my head as ball,
they may forget to return it!
I can barely breathe when night falls
for fear that the lovers of darkness
may take my very breath
and head for the cemetery.
I am even anxious to finish this poem
lest the lovers of darkness,
who linger in wait,
take my soul away
at the sinking of the sun.
© Translation: 2014, Njabu Mbono
MUKUNYURA KWARO ZUVA
MUKUNYURA KWARO ZUVA
Ndinotya kunyahwaira kwaro zuva,richipinda muna mai varo
richioneka zvaro,
serisingadzokezve mangwanani amangwana.
Ndinotya kushona kwehova, ranyura zuva
kushona chaiko, ungati inyoka dzerudzi rweshato
dzichikweva zvese, zvivi nezviuya, naidzo hove
kwazvinoendwa nazvo ndiani anoziva?
Ndinotya kurira kwemapere nemakava,
kunanaira kwezvitototo, nekukosora kwemiti neuswa kumakuva
naiko kudididza pasi kwemimvuri isina mitumbi.
Ndinotya chikuwe nekudududza kwevadzimba veusiku, vayera zuva;
tyo tyo tyo, kuri kufamba pamusoro pechisuvi,
tyo tyo tyo, ungati vari kutyora mitsvairo yavakatasva!
Ndinotya kukosora mukati merima,
nekuti ndingamuka ndisisina zwi,
ratorwa zvaro nevagoni, vakadididza naro, kutizira kusingadzokwi!
Ndinotya kutamba nevana vevadzimba veusiku, vayera zuva,
nekuti mukunyura kwaro zuva
richipinda muna mai varo,
vanoita wangu musoro bhora ravo
zvichida vakakanganwa kudzoka nawo.
Ndinotya kufema chaiko, kana kwangoti tsva
nyamusi vangatora wangu mweya, vadzimba veusiku, vayera zuva
vakadidiza nawo vakananga kumakuva.
Ndinotya kupedzisa iri detembo,
nyamusi vadzimba veusiku, ivavo vayera zuva,
vamire muberere, kumirira kundisesedza,
kuda kundiendesa kwamupfiganebwe,
imo mukunyura kwaro zuva.
© 2014, Conarth Macheka
Poems
Poems of Conarth Macheka
Close
AS THE SUN SETS
I am wrapped in fearwhen the sun begins sink,
as light forsakes the earth
with the uncertainty of return.
I am afraid of raging rivers in the dark
flowing with such turbulence, like startled pythons, washing fish and everything away – sins, ethics –
to God knows where!
I am frightened by laughing hyenas
and barking jackals, creepy crawlies,
whispering trees, graveyard grass,
and wandering lifeless shadows.
I am terrified by the chuckling of witches – the heirs of gloom;
swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, trading in mid-air
crack, crack, crack you’d think they are breaking their brooms.
I am afraid to cough at night
lest I awake with no voice,
lest they take it to no man’s land.
I would never play with the sons and daughters of the lovers of darkness
because as the sun gives in to the hours of night,
when they decide to use my head as ball,
they may forget to return it!
I can barely breathe when night falls
for fear that the lovers of darkness
may take my very breath
and head for the cemetery.
I am even anxious to finish this poem
lest the lovers of darkness,
who linger in wait,
take my soul away
at the sinking of the sun.
© 2014, Njabu Mbono
AS THE SUN SETS
I am wrapped in fearwhen the sun begins sink,
as light forsakes the earth
with the uncertainty of return.
I am afraid of raging rivers in the dark
flowing with such turbulence, like startled pythons, washing fish and everything away – sins, ethics –
to God knows where!
I am frightened by laughing hyenas
and barking jackals, creepy crawlies,
whispering trees, graveyard grass,
and wandering lifeless shadows.
I am terrified by the chuckling of witches – the heirs of gloom;
swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, trading in mid-air
crack, crack, crack you’d think they are breaking their brooms.
I am afraid to cough at night
lest I awake with no voice,
lest they take it to no man’s land.
I would never play with the sons and daughters of the lovers of darkness
because as the sun gives in to the hours of night,
when they decide to use my head as ball,
they may forget to return it!
I can barely breathe when night falls
for fear that the lovers of darkness
may take my very breath
and head for the cemetery.
I am even anxious to finish this poem
lest the lovers of darkness,
who linger in wait,
take my soul away
at the sinking of the sun.
© 2014, Njabu Mbono
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