3-in-1

3-in 1: Trilingual Poems from Onyango Oloo
From: Onyango Oloo - onyango_oloo@canada.com Thu, Jun 12, 8:11 PM
1.English:

a poem by oloo
From: Onyango Oloo - onyango_oloo@canada.com Thu, Jun 12, 7:21 PM

what keeps us going
what keeps us going despite the the daily howls
of assorted canines?
what keeps us going
what keeps us going despite the hourly yelps
of premature puppies?
what keeps us going
what keeps us going
what keeps us going despite the monthly incarnation
of revolving door dimwits?
what keeps us going
what keeps us going despite the desperate smears
of insecure wannabes?
what keeps us going
what keeps us calm amidst the cacophonous din
of frothing and blathering idiots?
what keeps us going
is the conviction
born of simple certitude, driven by defiant optimism
the knowledge
that we are not specks of dust fluttering in the cyberdesert
but organic actors swimming in a humongous stream
what makes us wake up each day
with a smile on our lips and a spring in our step
is the knowledge that we are struggling to realize a dream bigger than our own transient egos
our quiet self confidence makes it unnecessary
for us to scream for attention with crass obscene public gesticulation
we know, that unlike the faceless shadows who chase after us
that we have an inner life and we are striding purposely
along a thorny, mountainous road
that will definitely end with the realization
of our collective aspirations for peace, social justice, freedom and equality.


special composition for the netters on www.rcbowen.com
7:23 pm est
thursday, june 12, 2003
montreal

onyango oloo

2. Kiswahili

from: Onyango Oloo - onyango_oloo@canada.com Thu, Jun 12, 7:44 PM

: juzi
: nilizuru
: jukwaa fulani
: mtandaoni kusalimiana na kuwasiliana
: na wazalendo kutoka mashariki mwa afrika
:
: kuna juha fulani
: alijaribu kunizuia mlangoni
: nilipomtazama
: nikaona mkononi
: amejaa mashizi
: mdomoni
: amejipaka matapiko
: usoni na puani
: akikitirikwa
: na makamasi
:
: basi huyu fala alinisimamia
: eti kajaribu kunizuia nisiingie ndani
: nijumuike na wenzangu wananchi
: huyu baradhuli mpumbavu kajaribu
: kunitupia mashizi na maharo
: na kunipaka na makamasi na kunirushia makohozi
:
: nikamhepa ingawa uchafu na takataka zake
: ziliangukia nguo na mwili wangu.
: nikampita nikaingia ndani
: nikachukua sabuni nikaenda zangu bafuni
: nikaoga, nikawa msafi
: nikaendelea na shughuli zangu
: huku nikitia maanani
: kwamba yule bwana kichaa bado yupo pale pale
: na mashizi, makamasi na makohozi
: akimsubiri si mwingine ila mimi tu....
:
: mwenzenu onyango oloo
: jijini montreal
: leo magharibi tarehe kumi na mbili mwezi wa sita
: mwaka wa elfu mbili na tatu

3. Dholuo( With English Translation)

: jomoko paro
: ni ka gichiew pile pile
: gi miriambo kod ayany
: ni to gibiro hewa
: jomoko paro ga apara
: ni ka ginyalo yanya chakre okinyi nyaka odhiambo
: ni to abiro ling thi ka momo ma obwog gi bunde
: jomoko paro
: ni ka gipongo kama oganda chokore kaka kae
: ni to onyango oloo biro ringo to lal ni ji.
:
: jogi nyaka bed
: ni gin nyithindo ma ofuwo kendo oir
:
: an wuod gem ja kagola
: ta an thuon aruto ka sibuor
: apek ka liech
: to adhil nyaka chieng'
:
: gibiro tera kure?
:
: an wuod kenya
: onyango oloo
: e dala miluongo ni montreal

some people think
:that if they wake up everyday
:with lies and insults
that they will vanquish me
some people keep on thinking
that if they can hurl abuse at me from sunup to sundown
that i will be as silent as a mute with a gun pointed at him
some people imagine
that if they flood a forum like this where the community meets
that onyango oloo will flee from sight.
and i say that these people must be
stupid accursed urchins
i, a son of the gem people from the kagola clan
i am a valiant warrior that roars like the lion
and has the presence of an indomitable elephant
i remain steadfastly brave until my dying day
where, i ask, will they take me
i remain a son of kenya
onyango oloo
in the city called montreal