Best Kila Poems
Kakangu kaka fisi
Kila time wala misi
Ulalapo uamka kesi
Kwani wewe mesi?
Wasema wapiga tizi
Tizi tizi na ni kizi
Halafu hauna wasi
Wazi unakaza fizi
Categories:
kila, youth,
Form:
Didactic
English verse>
gimme sum mutual praise
gimme sum mutual praise
gimme sum mutual praise
All them there people's of the world;
Coastal dwellers praising; All day long, all the day long;
Rejoicing, and repenting of their wrongs.
Everybody on the islands;
Everywhere on the coastal Regions on the seas, lakes, oceans, everywhere;
Sahil praise;
Sawahil praise;
Boundary dwellers
capture to the heavens bound;
Islanders playing bongo-drums and tambores
Imani-faith
Kusudi sabatu purpose, purpose
Rejoicing, and repenting of their wrongs.
Everybody on the islands;
Everywhere on the coastal Regions on the seas, lakes, oceans, everywhere;
Sahil praise;
Sawahil praise;
Boundary dwellers
capture to the heavens bound;
People dancing, praising and praying all day this is their Swahili praise;
Swahili verse>
jumla Gimme kuheshimiana sifa
jumla Gimme kuheshimiana sifa
jumla Gimme kuheshimiana sifa
Kwao kuna watu wote wa dunia;
Wakazi wa pwani kumsifu; Mchana kutwa, mchana kutwa;
Kufurahi, na kutubu makosa yao.
Kila mtu katika visiwa;
Kila mahali katika mikoa ya pwani ya bahari, maziwa, bahari, kila mahali;
Sahil sifa;
Sawahil sifa;
Wakazi wa mpaka
kukamata mbingu amefungwa;
Wakaazi wa visiwani kucheza bongo-ngoma na tambores
Imani-imani
Amejenga sabatu lengo, lengo
Kufurahi, na kutubu makosa yao.
Kila mtu katika visiwa;
Kila mahali katika mikoa ya pwani ya bahari, maziwa, bahari, kila mahali;
Sahil sifa;
Sawahil sifa;
Wakazi wa mpaka
kukamata mbingu amefungwa;
Watu kucheza, kumsifu na kuomba siku zote hii ni sifa yao ya Kiswahili;
09/22/17
written by James Edward Lee Sr.
from anthology "Swahili Praise"
written by James Edward Lee Sr.
Categories:
kila, appreciation, community, endurance, engagement,
Form:
Lyric
Pity my city
I pity my city there is no dignity in this city
There is no justice no freedom
Street children in a locked hall, shocking
County council overworking
The city must be clean so some humans are garbage
Some are cabbage, the garbage pay the damage
No houses sleep on spillage
But there are human rights
There are human right activists
There is the department of justice
All filled with malice
Pockets practice
Gross malpractice
Injustice, silence
You are in court
Guilty of court contempt
Another charge
The bail or the sentence
I’m bailed out in silence
Next time just bring your presence
Retain your silence
I was told
You will be safe.
My phone is gone, my shirt is torn
No bus fare so I walk alone
I think a lot, go back home or not
I remember I am a poet
I write a poem, a paradox
Pain in the city
I pity my city there is no dignity in my city.
Never what I came for
Likewise not what I prepared for
To be robbed by those I voted for
I am not happy anymore
My city is no more
I don’t wish for more
I just want go
not the city I know.
not where I wanted to grow
cartels make us bow
Now, now, now, it is time.
Time to know I am grown
And carry always my identity card
The men in blue are out bad
And always never forget also to carry ‘kitambulisho ya polisi’
Hawa watu ni mabeast na mafisi, human hyenas
time to tie up my seat belt whenever in a matatu,
sina mia tano ya kulipa coti kila saa na sitaki kulala ndani siku tatu
two days I am locked up inside my own head
spinning spinning, my thoughts are dead
the life so far I have led
no step has been made
no journey finished
No house furnished
Time is running and broke is sickening
My heart is listening, my brain is calculating
I have to act quick, just do something
The weather so good for chilling, but bad for singles
Life is unfair
No dream has been real
No love to heal
No feel
No deal
Just the bill
More and more bills
The city is fattening
Wanjiku is sickening
From Nys to health to Tunnels
It is all on the channels
How they on the seat eat
Meat
The citizen kitty is gone
The city is torn
Get the president on the phone
Call the press, what must be done be done
Impunity will not rule this city
Dignity must be restored
This city no more a pity
Bring back the citizen kitty
Say no more
The city.
Categories:
kila, city, corruption, evil, humanity,
Form:
Ballad
Juzi juzi tulikuwa tunakutana
Kwenye mishwari tulipitana
Hili na lile tuliambiana
Menzangu ukaenda majuu
Kufika kule ukajiona wewe mungu
Uliotuacha huku nyuma ukatufananisha na vyungu
Haya yote yalinifanya nihisi uchungu
Lakini usijali siku hadi siku Nitarudisha zangu nguvu.
Umerudi jana, kimya kimya unaogopa kurogwa
Waache kurogwa wenye mahela Urogwe wewe hombolela
Kwa maalim ulifika
Dua na ubani ukaoshwa
Macho ya watu yasije kukudhuru Maana wewe ni kama nuru Kilaupitapo mwanga unazidi kuwaka
Shoga hatukuwezi
Huko majuu itabidi tufike
Hata kama kukifika kama wezi.
Leo tumegongana
Excuse me ukanitamkia
Kiswahili umesahau
Barabara zina vumbi sana
Watu huwawezi
Uswazi umewazidi
Sana wamekuwa wakaaidi
Maneno wanayo ongea unaona kwako si sahihi Sana sana unawalinganisha na watu wa chini
?Kila ukimaliza kuamkia
Mkono wako unaosha na sabuni
Maradhi ya uswazi unayaogopa
Usije ukarudi ‘kwenu’ na magonjwa ya kuporomoka
Kwa majembe na mashoka
Unagamba kama mungu kakupa vyema ya kuokoka
Shoga umetisha
Huko majuu mwenzagu hatusemi
Leo kunisalimia unaona tabu
Mila za kwetu kwako unaona kavu
Kila usimamapo unahesabu hadi tatu
Asije mshenzi kukupora ukahisi moyo umekuwa mchafu Maana huku kwetu wezi kweli ni tabu
Shoga tangu umerudi kutoka ulaya, hatukuwezi
Nakupa miaka kama kumi
Umalize katabia kauhuni
Umalize ulaya kuwachuna
Uje huku tukucheke
Maendeleo uliokuwa unayataka yamekupiga teke Aibu unawakataza kwenu wasipayuke Kwakeli wewe mtoto wa kike
Kubali yakubalike
Nafsi yako ifanye impumzike
Categories:
kila, emotions, environment,
Form:
Ilianza na masalamu za hewani.
"Niaje".
Masmile za confusion,
Fusion ya lust na trust,
Compilation ngori ju huoni mahali mnafikishana
Mbio za ujana huishia kitandani,
Au kwa cell ndani.
Makosa ni kukosa kuona future
Kwa mkono nikatattoo hour glass,
So that every morning nikiamka kwa bed yake najua ni turn ya another lass.
Same script,same characters.
Vijana ni wale wale.
Pangoni ni pale pale.
Set huchange na weatherman.
Ndio hata socks huwa ni question ya aftermath.
Virusi ama shopping list ya mapampers
But
Bands still made her dance.
She discovered the secret to it all nikunyamaza and smile like Mona Lisa,
Kutumbukiza vidole kwa maji ya uhai
Ndio ata kesho ukimwai,asubuhi bado dignity na ngwai ziko mkononi mwake.
Sala na ibada ikawa ni lazima
Ju hujui next time inakupatia wapi...kwa mama Bima ama kwa kina nonini.
Ndio Nani...saa ngapi...
Masharti tuliwachia kina baba na mama,
Tukipatana just make sure tunaheshimiana
Maneno ya fanya hivi,usifanye...ni hadithi ya wahenga.
Hakuna love.
Love nikujilove.
Love nikuamini ukipata ball na Jina yako si MRS
We ni single mother.
Kuishi na yeye ni kalongo ya baba na mama,
Lazima brikicho itachezwa usiku.
Machozi ni ile ile,barabara iko vile vile umeitengeneza ju ulikubali kuketi kwa meza na kunegotiate love.
Hakuna tafauti na geneza,6 feet under
Mchanga ikiongezwa.
Usiulize kwa nini mashonga ni wengi
Na kila Dame ni lesbian,
Wamatha na vitambi wanateka maboy,
Masponsor ndio lingo ya wababa
Harusi na watoto kageuka biashara.
Ntaplay along
Na delusion ya Prince charming na white horse.
Lakini deep down,
Hakuna love.
2016.
Categories:
kila, africa,
Form:
Dramatic Verse
KENYA
Ndege ya unyanyapaa inapaa,
kila siku ni balaa.
Alaa,
alaa!
Hamna kazi,
swali hili ni wazi.
Haya sio maneno tu,
bali ni kilio cha waja.
Wengi wanaodhulumiwa,
kilio ni cha haki!
Tumechoka na uhuni,
unaokiuka kanuni.
Vyakula,
bei ghali!
Maisha yetu yamo mnadani,
dalali mate yanamdondoka!
Sisi sote ni binadamu,
ni wakati.
Tuungane,
tuimarishe nchi yetu.
Kenya,
ni yetu sote.
IAN MUNYWE©
Categories:
kila, class, conflict, discrimination, humanity,
Form:
Free verse
Swahili verse
We, bwana
Kaw kweli
Kwa kweli
Hebu ngoma yaani HIM
Kwa kweli
Kwa keeli
Kuja juu sasa
Hebu kuimba, sifa
Kuimba kwa sauti nyimbo na
Sauti kwa mfalme
Mkuu mimi ni
Baba, Mungo wa Baba
Njoo sasa, njoo sasa
Hebu kuabudu kwanza hapa duniani
Silaha na mikono aliinua juu kuelekea mbingu
Hebu kuabudu, hebu ibada
Kuja juu, kuja juu;
Pazeni sauti senu sauti
Haraka, haraka
kuja juu sasa Hebu sifa HIM
Kila mtu, mawanamke kijana msichana;
Haraka, haraka
Na Hebu msifuni Bwana;
kuja juu, kuja kuu, kuja juu sasa
Mimi N Mungu na Yesu
Na wengine wa waumini
Kuja, tunakwenda kumsifu hivyo
Kila mtu kuimba/kaw furaha
Kila mtu ngoma/kwa furaha
Lila mtu kuinua mikono hiyo na
kusifu jina lake/jina lake, jjina la Bwana
Kwa kweli
English verse
Hey, man, Come on, Come on
Let's dance wit HIm
Come on, come on, come on
Now, Let's sing praises
Sing aloud songs and sounds for the king
The great I AM, Father, Daddy God
Come on, come on, come on
Come on
Let's worship, let us worship
Come one and all, come on, come on
Lift up your voices, voices
Come on, come on won't ya come
Come on , come on
Lift up your voices, voices;
Come on , Come on com on now let's praise HIM
Praise the Lord;
In God and Jesus
And the rest of the believers
Come on, come on we're gonna praise HIM so
Everybody sing/for joy
Everybody dance/for joy
Everybody lift those hands and praise His name;/His name the name of the Lord
Come On
written by James Edward Lee Sr. 2017
07/31/2017
from "Swahili Praise" anthology
Categories:
kila, beautiful, blessing, celebration, dedication,
Form:
Free verse
-- Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You --swahili
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Hakuna mtu anayeweza kuwa bora zaidi kuliko wewe;
Hakuna mtu anayeweza kupamba uzuri wako;
Milele, hivyo kukumbatia;
Na kama upendo kwamba baada yako;
Tafuta Baba
Tafuta Baba
Baba kumpa moja
M imi ndimi huyo;
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Ku Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
kupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Na ikiwa ningeweza kuwa kama unataka;
Nami nitakuwa zaidi ya unahitaji;
Kila kudumu, hivyo kukubali kama mimi kukumbatia wewe
Kukupenda wewe
Kukupenda wewe
Pamoja kama sisi wawili ..
Tafuta Baba, (wote pamoja)
Wewe na mimi kwa upendo
Wewe na mimi wenzi wa roho (wote pamoja)
Kutafuta Baba
Kuwa milele, hivyo kukubali sisi mbili
Milele kukumbatia sisi kufanya
08/29/18
Written by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2018
From anthology “A LOVE FOR YOU”
Categories:
kila, analogy, appreciation, celebration, desire,
Form:
Lyric
And I
And I love you
And I
Adore you
And I love U
And I love U
And I love U
I love U
And I
I love you
And I pray often, that you
Will choose me to be
Be your earthly King
For I’ll treat you like a Queen
God made you that for me
And I am grateful, so very grateful….
The way you smile, last a long while
And when you talk, you sound as a meadowlark
Far be it from me to judge one of God’s queens
I love the way you pray
And I love you when you sing
The humbleness, the worship
You’re an honor to the king
Na mimi
Na ninakupenda
Na mimi
Kukubali wewe
Na ninampenda U
Na ninampenda U
Na ninampenda U
nakupenda
Na mimi
nakupenda
Na ninaomba mara nyingi, kwamba wewe
Utaamua mimi kuwa
Kuwa Mfalme wako wa duniani
Kwa maana nitakufanyia kama Malkia
Mungu alikufanya wewe kwa ajili yangu
Na nina shukrani, hivyo ninashukuru sana ....
Namna unasisimua, mwisho wa muda mrefu
Na wakati unapozungumza, unasikia kama meadowlark
Mbali iwe kwangu kuhukumu mmoja wa viongozi wa Mungu
And I
And I love you
And I
Adore you
And I
Pray for you each and everyday
And I
And I love you
And I
Adore you
And I love U
And I love U
And I love U
I love U
Na mimi
Na ninakupenda
Na mimi
Kukubali wewe
Na mimi
Ombeni kwa kila siku
Na mimi
Na ninakupenda
Na mimi
Kukubali wewe
Na ninampenda U
Na ninampenda U
Na ninampenda U
nakupenda
And I
And I love you
And I
Adore you
And I
Pray for you each and everyday
And I
And I love you
And I
Adore you
And I love U
And I love U
And I love U
I love U
12-7-18
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.
Arranged music by James Edward Lee Sr.©2018
Categories:
kila, appreciation, desire, for her,
Form:
Lyric
In His Praise Mola wetu
Mungu wetu
Sifa inastahili
Praise Him worthy Mola wetu
Mungu wetu
Sifa inastahili
For He is worthy
Praiseworthy
Our Lord
Our God
Is praise worthy?
And I
Sing His praises
We sing to thee honor and glory
Our Lord, Our God
We sing loud
We acknowledge
His always
Our Lord
Our God
Is praise worthy?
In His Praise
Praise Him worthy
For He is worthy
Praiseworthy
Katika Sifa Zake
Msifu anastahili
kwa kuwa ndiye
anayestahili Inastahili kusifiwa
In His Praise
Praise Him worthy
For He is worthy
Praiseworthy
Mola wetu
Mungu wetu
Sifa inastahili
In His Praise
Praise Him worthy
For He is worthy
Praiseworthy
Na mimi
Imba sifa zake
Tunakuimbia sifa na
utukufu
Our Lord
Our God
Is praise worthy?
Mola wetu, Mungu
wetu
Tunaimba kwa sauti
kubwa
Tunakiri
Yake kila wakati
Our Lord
Our God
Is praise worthy?
Mola wetu
Mungu wetu
Sifa inastahil
Katika Sifa Zake
Msifu anastahili
kwa kuwa ndiye
anayestahili
Inastahili kusifiwa
Our Lord
Our God
Is praise worthy?
Our Lord, Our God
We sing loud
We acknowledge
His always
Our Lord
Our God
Is praise worthy?
1/16/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2020
SWAHILI VERSE
for anthology "Praise Worthy"
Categories:
kila, blessing, dedication, devotion,
Form:
Lyric
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda;
Mtu huyu huko na suti ya kijivu cha flannel;
Yeye huko juu na takataka ya kuzungumza kwa kinywa hizNi jivin kufikiriNi yeye ni mzuri sana;
Na kumchukua dada huyo huko, yeah man i mean yea yeye ni mzuri na mzuri;
Lakini yeye daima anafadhili baadhi ya ndugu fedha na talkin nothN wakati wote
Kidogo giza mpendwa wa Afrika Upendo Mtoto
Talkin bout, talkin bout unajua nini
Ahunda
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda;
Lakini hey, Bobby kuchukua dude huyo amesimama karibu;
Wakati talkin bout Ahunda kila mtu hana tu kusikia sauti;
Hatua mbaya, aibu majadiliano mwenye maumivu;
Ana mpango bora zaidi Amani na kuokoa Ardhi ...
Yeye ni mdogo kuliko wote na yeye ni mrefu sana;
Talkin bout Ahunda;
Sasa kukimbia kuwaambia kwamba anajua wapi;
Alizaliwa Marekani mama yake alikuwa Mfrika;
Talkin bout Ahunda, talkin bout Ahunda;
Talkin bout Ahunda, talkin bout Ahunda;
Talkin bout Ahunda;
Hivi karibuni kuwa Mtawala wa kabila lake la asili wakati atakuwa mtu
Talkin bout, talkin bout Ahunda
Sema sasa ndugu kuangalia kwamba paka hii ina uhakika ni safi;
Talkin bout Ahunda;
Anatembea kama mazungumzo kama paka ya kibinadamu;
Yeye ni Mama mbaya sana aliyewahi kuona;
Categories:
kila, adventure, analogy, appreciation, celebration,
Form:
Free verse
Om namh shivay
Paal paal leyta mai sansey maa tere dhakan ki awaz par
Dhayan mai dhayan lage jisme ho bas devi apki awaz
Na raaza aaye koi kila na koi
Mandir bas intazar karti ho shamsano mai
Roz ogey jo sooraj garibo ka bharthi ho peyt kripa may daya bahva onkey mathey par
Shis dhery jo kar mahanant aagey badey
Bas ek vinti mere door hi shai kanth par sadah rhey om bole.
Om. Maa
With love all
MRI Jagdish Bajantri ETD
Categories:
kila, 2nd grade,
Form:
Double Dactyl
inahitaji kuimba mbele
ya wanakwaya kila mahali
Sing brother sing
Imba kaka imba
Imba kaka imba
Nightingale brother
His name is Elijah
He's a nightingale
His God is still the same
A young Nightingale repeats the repertoire he hears
As he knows God's name
He strikes a pose
Sings a song a power verse
He can't be wrong he knows his God words
Sing those words those songs
He's still the same now
What if us
In whom God We trust
What have we denied
God forbid
Take off that cloak
Elijah roll it up-
wait for the burst
fly away singing joys of praise
Shall he be shy, let him sing-sing
Let him sing-sing
Yahweh is my God
So sing forth resonating tweets of Joy
Sing for good night peaceful beats
Channel versus so sweet so sweet
Sweet Elijah Nightingale
Needs to sing in front of a choir- everywhere
imba Kaka imba
Yahweh nah mongo wangu
-Elijah Nightingale
Repeat those the songs that you hear
Praise the Lord with the voice resounding so lovely
His name is Elijah and he sings what he hears a lovely
Brown brother bronze a male child who cheers
He hears his spirit song and he's a nightingale
What if he's stilled God forbid
Let us hear the background voice
What is his choice
to sing the songs he hears Hallelujah
2/8/22
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr © 2022
Languages used English and Swahili
"from future anthology -Where Are the Villagers"
Categories:
kila, 9th grade, boy, celebration,
Form:
Dramatic Monologue
In Ongata Rongai's club, a memory song weaves,
A tale of Newton Karish and daring thieves,
Late '90s, New Year's Eve, a lively show,
A sold-out crowd, in high spirits, they'd go.
Karish, unlike modern stars who mime,
With a live band and dancers, he'd shine.
From 10 pm till dawn's early light,
He'd entertain with all his might.
Dancers lost in rhythms, the crowd in delight,
As midnight approached, spirits took flight,
But then, at 2 am, a sudden hush fell,
Speakers went mute, a foreboding spell.
A gang, six or seven, with weapons untamed,
Machetes, clubs, and rusty guns they aimed,
"KILA MTU LALA CHINI!" the leader's decree,
Patrons, sobered, herded, as fear grew free.
"EVERYONE, GET NAKED!" his next demand did ring,
So, they stripped down to nothing, a peculiar, shocking thing,
As the gang searched pockets, taking what they could find,
The crowd cowered on the cold floor, fear etched in their mind.
The gang's leader, bold with humor in tow,
Ordered the speakers to once again glow,
Onstage, Karish and his band stood bare,
Naked and vulnerable, in the chilling air.
"START SINGING!" the gang leader's absurd command,
Karish, his voice trembling, had to withstand,
"Muthoni Kifagio," the song he must perform,
A satirical piece, to ridicule and inform.
Adding humor to the tale's unique lore,
The gang chose a dancer, a man to explore,
An old, pot-bellied, short figure in a cowboy hat,
Dancing comically for the gang; imagine that!
The heist was brief, mere minutes had passed,
And the gang disappeared, leaving the patrons aghast,
Naked and frantic, like a colonial scramble they raced,
For clothes to wear, in haste, they embraced.
Karish and his band, furthest from the pile of clothes,
Landed mismatched attire, confusion arose,
Karish in a spaghetti top, a scent of perfume so strong,
His wife at home, his troubles, he'd explain ere long.
No offense, but imagine the scene so bizarre,
As the pot-bellied dancer, in a cowboy hat, old by far,
Wore lady's biker short, oh what a sight,
In an unexpected place, a humorous plight.
To this day, Karish worries and ponders,
How the dancer, in his unusual wonders,
Explained to satisfaction, to his wife's delight,
Why he wore lady's biker short that night.
Categories:
kila, celebration, humorous, new years
Form:
Narrative
three legged table
do not partake of liquor
nor strong pungent drinks
like in a western
bar fight busting tables chairs
fly soars broken to
onto floor broken
cowboys yippee-kila-yay
under bust fighting
like in a western
broken up three leg table
one legged BROKEN
10/30/23
For This or That, Vol 21 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
Poem Syllable Counter Results
Syllables Per Line: 5 7 5 0 5 7 5 0 5 7 5 0 5 7 5
Total # Syllables: 68
Total # Lines: 15 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically: N/A
Total # Words: 46
Categories:
kila, analogy, engagement, journey, metaphor,
Form:
Haiku