by Philo Ikonya
At first I thought the sun would never come,
but it left the cloud above, now pale blue,
and came down touching buildings.
Not minding mincing icy ways,
I do not know why it had avoided the church spire,
perhaps it was too high to inspire.
We saw long clothes, we failed to see him.
Watching his youthful eyes and eagerness,
we missed the dashing spark in his iris,
the cold that said he was looking for recognition,
dying to be hugged on earth and in heaven.
We did not see his brain was a computer,
longing to be touched and loved in service,
force of creativity new barriers breaking,
the violent light of a bomb awakens us.
But the light of the sun,
has kissed everything lower,
flower seeds stir a little,
the walls of our flats where faith should be,
begin to warm up.
The black lamp hanging on your balcony,
the white crow again as the sparrow flies,
returning in a group to do three journeys,
to the power of three so many victories.
Soon I will see the ground warm up.
For the sun rays have hit the ground.
Soon, I will see the flowers hold up again.
And the song of hope will go on forever.
Soon, I will see the mist rise again,
and even if it be deep winter on sudden night,
I will take off my shoes,
and bring him home to warmth.
Oslo, St. Hanshaugen, 1.01.2011
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ABOUT THE POET ~
Philo Ikonya is a prolific poet and novelist. She has been described as poet who claims history and creates futures passionately. Philo was first a school teacher and later taught Semiotics in Tangaza College and Spanish at the United States International University, (USIU) in Nairobi Kenya., Between 2007 and 2009, Philo Ikonya, PEN Kenya president, was arrested brutally several times for speaking out against corruption and the foiling of freedom of expression in her country. Born in Kenya, Philo lives in Oslo in exile from 2009. She is respected by the people for being vocal and loved, but resisted by those for whom the bitterness of truth is too personal. Within the context of power, human rights and freedom of expression, Philo is in her element. She has been described by poet Shailja Patel as “Rejecting silence and refusing simplification as she battles corruption”. “This author describes what she is heavily involved in, and she manages to portray it so that it concerns us all.” Per Ole Kallestad, Norwegian poet., Philo Ikonya is the author of two novels: Kenya, will you marry me? Langaa, Cameroon, 2011, and Leading the Night, Twaweza Publications, Kenya, 2010. She authored poems translated into German and published in a bilingual edition titled Out of Prison: Love Songs (Aus dem Gefangnis Liebesgesange) published by Loecker Austria, 2010 and This Bread of Peace (Lapwing, Belfast) 2010. She has written three young readers books: We met a Grasshopper and Other Poems, The Lost Gazelle (By East African Educational Publishers) and The Kenyan boy who became President of America translated into Norwegian, Med røtter fra Kenya I det hvite hus published by Libretto, Oslo.
Last updated July 14, 2015