HOW COULD I FAIL TO SEE?

by Kariuki wa Nyamu

Neema,
How could I fail to see
you weren’t the usual urban girl
whose ways are not up to scratch?
How could I fail to see
the patient waiting for each other
to get done with school?
How could I fail to see
the right timing of
our budding affection?
How could I fail to see
the immensity of adoration
embedded in our interactions?
How could I fail to see
we could modestly put up
with each other’s flaws?
How could I fail to see
you and I inserting gold rings
into each other’s finger?
How could I fail to see
our household could
turn out an envy of many?
How could I fail to see
your affability, chastity,
moderation and industry?
How could I fail to see
your African gorgeousness
could eternally charm me?
How could I fail to see
the likely strength of our matrimony
till the end of Time?
Anyhow Neema dear
you’ll have to pardon me
for fruitfully failing
to put in the picture
what the future holds.
After all
I’m just
a man.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kariuki wa Nyamu is a Kenyan poet, radio playwright, children’s writer, editor, translator, critic, and educator. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Language, Literature, and Education from Makerere University, Uganda. His poems won The National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU) Literary Awards ‒ 2007 and in 2010, while in third-year, he won Makerere University Creative Writing in the Contemporary World Competition for the best collection of poems. He is published widely both in print and online, in anthologies such as A Thousand Voices Rising, Boda Boda Anthem and Other Poems, Best New African Poets 2015 Anthology, Experimental Writing: Volume 1, Africa Vs Latin America Anthology, Best New African Poets 2016 Anthology, Africanization versus Americanization: Volume 1, Africa Vs North America Anthology, Writing on Language, Culture and Development: Volume 1, Africa Vs Asia Anthology, Kreative Diadem, Praxis Magazine, The Wagon Magazine, Jalada Africa, Poetry Potion, The Mamba Journal for African Haiku: Issue IV, besides co-authoring a Children’s poetry and short story Anthology titled When Children Dare to Dream. Kariuki, who also won the Babishai Niwe 2017 Haiku Prize, is presently pursuing a Master of Arts in Literature at Kenyatta University, Kenya.

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