ON THE WINGS OF LOVE – Poems By Young Poets From Uganda

These young poets were awarded the first three prizes of “On The Wings of Love”, a poetry competition in Ugandan schools, which took place in 2016. Full description of project by organizers at bottom of post.

1^st

GENDER AND FREEDOM by Ronnie Mubiru & Collin Wambete

A thought back to the days of yore

In the summers of my youth

Often left at home to do chores

Considering its my worth

In hope for better fate

I would let my mind project

To realms beyond possibility.

Under the haven of silhouetted leaves

Against the sunlight, I would seek refuge.

Through random yet carefully chosen rhythm

Questioning why things are the way they are

I would chant;

Would the sun please kiss my right cheek

Oh what vile perdition

The less they see the more you’d be

Enslaved to tradition.

Would the sun please kiss my left cheek

My father’s trust is bound

To a young farm boy’s brawn and wit

Which to me can’t be sound

Would the sun please kiss both my cheeks

Unveil the man in me

For weak and useless I was born

To face society’s scorn.

A buzz in my ear, I would hear

And enjoy its gentle and soothing

Transfiguration into son

Whispering to me, the bee would sing;

You love your father as much as you’re bound

A man of strength you wish to be.

But a girl like you is weak to the crowd

And that is the choice of fate.

Do not renege on your innate promise

You are young with so little time

Even I the worker accept

The insalubrious yet fair life.

Do as you’re told, make everyone happy

Your father will love you the more.

It will be so sweet; sweeter than honey

And nature to which you were born.

The buzz became more profound day by day

Until it abruptly vanished

In a whirlwind of realisation

I saw it was my inner most fire of

Doubt and disbelief in the world

So rigid, so ugly in the way

It beguiles me as I reach for my dreams

It denies me the right to be happy

In a new light and spirit

A new song echoed from my heart

A song that defies all odds

A song that rejuvenates my soul

A song where worker turn to queens

I sang with all the glee

That this philosophy could offer me;

Only one cheek then, the sun must kiss it.

For I do love my father much

I would manifest myself rightly

For his good approval as much!

But what about my own hopes, fears and dreams

Why does this fate disgrace me so?

I am quite intelligent but deemed lean

What did I do to deserve this scorn?

No, I shall not conform to this world’s norms

I do not need to be a man

For I am enough the way I am

The sun will forever kiss both my cheeks!

Like a Phoenix from the ashes of

My old wrong state of mind

A new song had risen.

A song sang with gaiety of heart,

Body and soul!

A song of freedom from bias and firmness of mind

A song I have carried with me

From times long forgotten!

A song the world should join in

To sing along.

2^nd

NATURE – Sweet And Sour by Ethel Alexandria Luyiga

The roar that brings me fear

And the hiss that brings me peace

It is impossible to fathom

The effect on me that nature forms

The wolf howls to drive me insane

But look at the magnificence of its mane

The mountains stand with such beauty and majesty

That all my forefather have been looking,

But when they start to crumple, one might

Think that with me they would be humbled

But no dear, I am left addled

For with nature you can never be sure

It embraces every race and knows none.

It has no memory, and no love.

When I close my eyes I could run insane with fear

But when I open them, its splendour takes away my every care

It is magical, it is mystical, it is musical

But don’t dare dance dear, you might awaken the beast.

3^rd

I CAN MAKE A MASTER SHIP by Nalubwama Brenda Ann

What purpose is me?

Each time I feel like giving up

Reading makes my head go E-wire

Each day boiling with its own stress

Was I meant for this life?

It’s more like I am pulling an endless rope

One covering tonnes overwhelming me

It’s more like taking on a rapture

One with no messiah

I am beyond fade up

With each day, it’s another tear

I am living a life with a lot of fear

But how great is Sudhir, Wavamunno

I am going to pick up my broken pieces

Closing my ears vibrantly

To all voices saying I am a failure

I am going to succeed beyond all imagination

I am unstoppable, untouchable I am great

Each time I look to the sky

It paints pictures of my vision

I am going to built a master ship

The waves will feel the squeaking of its make

For I, now have the zeal to read and excel

I am rendering myself blind to the visible

Working for what seems invisible

For within the flick of time

I will save this generation.

Statement by Hamid Barole Abdu, one of the designers of “On The Wings Of Love”, the poetry challenge organized in Ugandan schools in 2016.

“In a world of uncertainty, interdependence always beats hands down over independence.

The work of the “On the wings of Love” is a synergistic product of various minds. It began in mid 2016 as I was reviewing the success of literature among the youth in Uganda. I proposed a poetry writing competition project to Namatovu Tinah, a team member of the 3D Pursuit company and I pledged to award the best 5 among the various participants.

I extend my appreciation to all the students that participated in this writing competition project and the 3D Pursuit company and other poets who have tested this material and have given feedback and encouragement.

For the development of this project and production of the book itself I feel a deep sense of gratitude;

To the 3D Pursuit company, an educational and entertainment (edutainment) project in schools with an interesting mix of educational messages on career guidance, motivation and mentorship, spiced up with 3D schools to empower youth with life changing information.

Through writing challenges in short stories and Poetry, 3D Pursuit hosted its first high school Poetry challenge awards on the 25^th February, 2017 where over 200 students, teachers and administrators of the nine participating schools were invited to witness the awarding ceremony.”