The deadline for the submission of poems to the Second Edition of the Fern Poetry prize worth 2,000 Kshs. was on 15th January 2011. I would like to appreciate every poet who submitted poems for consideration and it’s my pleasure to announce the winner of the second Fern Poetry Prize. And the winner is... Redscar McOdindo K’Oyuga...with his poem titled ‘Please come home daddy’. This poem not only appeals to all audiences but also speaks to a cause. You can feel the immense desire for proximity attachment expressed by the observer who is also deeply emotionally invested. Read the winning poem here http://www.bernardmuhia.com
P.S. The Third Edition of the Fern Poetry Prize will be in February and is themed the ‘Love Edition’. The prize for the third edition will be increased to 3,000 Kshs. Submission of poems starts on 27th January 2011 and closes on 11th February 2011. The winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day, 14th February 2011. Submit only love poems to poetry@bernardmuhia.com. To read this edition's winning poem by Redscar McOdindo K’Oyuga titled ‘Please come home daddy’ click here http://www.bernardmuhia.com
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, December 6, 2010
Happy new website www.bernardmuhia.com
To celebrate the launch of my website www.bernardmuhia.com, Poets have another chance to win a thousand Kenya shillings.
After a successful first round, here comes the sequel in what will be a long series of the Fern Poetry Prize. I would like to big up our first winner Jennifer Noxolo Musangi and her poem titled ‘This poem I refuse to write’.
To enter the competition follow the guidelines on http://www.bernardmuhia.com/
After a successful first round, here comes the sequel in what will be a long series of the Fern Poetry Prize. I would like to big up our first winner Jennifer Noxolo Musangi and her poem titled ‘This poem I refuse to write’.
To enter the competition follow the guidelines on http://www.bernardmuhia.com/
Monday, November 15, 2010
And the winner is...
Hi Everyone.
After weeks of waiting and tons of poems submitted for the poem of the week competition, it is my pleasure to announce the winner of the poem of the week prize of Ksh. 1,000. And the winner is Jennifer Noxolo Musangi! Her poem titled 'This poem I refuse to write' is a provocative sex-themed poem that explores the female body and procreation.
Few poets are daring enough to be provocative when it comes to matters of sex and procreation but Jennifer has dipped into the belly of the beast with this poem.
Here it is...
THIS POEM I REFUSE TO WRITE
By Jennifer-noxolo Musangi
This poem I refuse to write
this poem that refuses to be silent
no, this poem, I shall not write
if I write this poem, they shall say I’m gross
if I write this poem, it will be called graphic
if I write this poem, a woman's poem it will become
but I want to write this gross poem
I want to leave out no details this time
I want to describe this rhythm in rhyme
the rhythm of blood and fluids
the blood and fluids of childbirth
but no, that is just taboo.
I shall not write about blood
for blood is better spoken of in war
and vaginal blood disgusts you
but I want to speak of the cut flesh
the flesh of my vagina cut into my ass
but this maternity talk irritates the male ear
and I refuse to write this poem
because to you that is trivial
and not good enough for a poetry anthology
this poem I refuse to write
because it's time women writers got serious
and wrote about things that matter
this poem I shall not write
for men need protection, protection from such ugly flesh
the flesh they want fit for the next f...
After weeks of waiting and tons of poems submitted for the poem of the week competition, it is my pleasure to announce the winner of the poem of the week prize of Ksh. 1,000. And the winner is Jennifer Noxolo Musangi! Her poem titled 'This poem I refuse to write' is a provocative sex-themed poem that explores the female body and procreation.
Few poets are daring enough to be provocative when it comes to matters of sex and procreation but Jennifer has dipped into the belly of the beast with this poem.
Here it is...
THIS POEM I REFUSE TO WRITE
By Jennifer-noxolo Musangi
This poem I refuse to write
this poem that refuses to be silent
no, this poem, I shall not write
if I write this poem, they shall say I’m gross
if I write this poem, it will be called graphic
if I write this poem, a woman's poem it will become
but I want to write this gross poem
I want to leave out no details this time
I want to describe this rhythm in rhyme
the rhythm of blood and fluids
the blood and fluids of childbirth
but no, that is just taboo.
I shall not write about blood
for blood is better spoken of in war
and vaginal blood disgusts you
but I want to speak of the cut flesh
the flesh of my vagina cut into my ass
but this maternity talk irritates the male ear
and I refuse to write this poem
because to you that is trivial
and not good enough for a poetry anthology
this poem I refuse to write
because it's time women writers got serious
and wrote about things that matter
this poem I shall not write
for men need protection, protection from such ugly flesh
the flesh they want fit for the next f...
Friday, October 29, 2010
So you hide
By Benson Kabugi Wamwea
He called you fat
After he met a skinny girl
And forgot about your curves
The very curves that drew him to you
So you hide
You hide under baggy jumpers
Hoping to conceal the imaginary folds
Yet you hide your figure
The frame of your beauty
He called you black
After he had seen a bleached face
And forgotten about the suppleness of your skin
The very skin he so loved to touch
So you hide
You hide behind layers of make up
Hoping to conceal the imaginary pimples
Yet you mask the nature of your visage
The pride of your glamour
He called you controlling
After he met a reckless broad
And forgot about your nurturing care
The care that reminded him so much of his precious mother
So you hide
You hide behind a stern face
Hoping to hide the imaginary naivety
Yet you conceal your loving nature
The warmth of your persona
He called you weird
He called you old fashioned
He called you outdated
He called you an idealist
He called you a hopeless romantic
And you ran.
And you wept.
And you hid.
Now another has appeared
But he looks like him
So you hide
He reminds you of him
So you hide
He voice is just like his
So you hide
You hide behind the plastic smile
While you cower inside
You hide behind the busy day
While you are lonely inside
You hide behind the brave words
While you are scared inside
You are afraid he will lie like the last did
So you hide
You are afraid you will cry like you last did
So you hide
You are afraid to run like you last did
So you hide
The closer he moves, the farther you run
The nearer he draws, the deeper you hide
The more he calls, the tighter you curl
He must wait longer
Because you hide
He must call louder
because you hide
He must smile broader
Because you hide
He must try harder
because you hide
He must pay for the other's sins
So you hide.
He called you fat
After he met a skinny girl
And forgot about your curves
The very curves that drew him to you
So you hide
You hide under baggy jumpers
Hoping to conceal the imaginary folds
Yet you hide your figure
The frame of your beauty
He called you black
After he had seen a bleached face
And forgotten about the suppleness of your skin
The very skin he so loved to touch
So you hide
You hide behind layers of make up
Hoping to conceal the imaginary pimples
Yet you mask the nature of your visage
The pride of your glamour
He called you controlling
After he met a reckless broad
And forgot about your nurturing care
The care that reminded him so much of his precious mother
So you hide
You hide behind a stern face
Hoping to hide the imaginary naivety
Yet you conceal your loving nature
The warmth of your persona
He called you weird
He called you old fashioned
He called you outdated
He called you an idealist
He called you a hopeless romantic
And you ran.
And you wept.
And you hid.
Now another has appeared
But he looks like him
So you hide
He reminds you of him
So you hide
He voice is just like his
So you hide
You hide behind the plastic smile
While you cower inside
You hide behind the busy day
While you are lonely inside
You hide behind the brave words
While you are scared inside
You are afraid he will lie like the last did
So you hide
You are afraid you will cry like you last did
So you hide
You are afraid to run like you last did
So you hide
The closer he moves, the farther you run
The nearer he draws, the deeper you hide
The more he calls, the tighter you curl
He must wait longer
Because you hide
He must call louder
because you hide
He must smile broader
Because you hide
He must try harder
because you hide
He must pay for the other's sins
So you hide.
Monday, October 25, 2010
My Beloved
By Kiarii Wainaina
My beloved you are mine and I, yours,
Hold my gaze with your mysterious blackness
Enchant me with the mystery of your darkness
For the shine of your face is like polished ebony
Like an African night in a moonless sky.
Bewitch me with the mischief of your wink,
And the flutter of your lovely lashes,
While your eyes twinkle like stars of my black skies.
Bind me with the beauty of your look,
And the love so intent in the look of your eyes.
Undo me with magic of your tongue,
In a sweet love ballad, a lazy whisper,
And the curl of your lips as you pout,
In a mock sulk, like the baby you are-
A young heart in a woman’s dress.
Blind me with the shine of your smile,
And the glint of your teeth in a merry grin,
In mischievous sneer or unbridled happiness,
Bright as a milky way in a moonless night,
Lighting my night when the moon won’t shine.
Mesmerize me with the dance in your step,
And the sway of your hips in measured walk,
The heave of your bosom in unbridled laughter,
The angelic crane of your neck, like a painter’s model
And I’ll paint you on the tablet of my heart.
I am amazed by the humility in your heart.
And the genius of your sober mind.
Though fairer than most, even all,
Like a bridled horse you rein your pride,
In measured words and careful steps.
My beloved I am yours and you, mine
A willing captive of your endless charm,
I’ll ever explore the mystery you are.
My beloved I am yours and you, mine,
To ever love, to ever cherish and forever hold.
My beloved you are mine and I, yours,
Hold my gaze with your mysterious blackness
Enchant me with the mystery of your darkness
For the shine of your face is like polished ebony
Like an African night in a moonless sky.
Bewitch me with the mischief of your wink,
And the flutter of your lovely lashes,
While your eyes twinkle like stars of my black skies.
Bind me with the beauty of your look,
And the love so intent in the look of your eyes.
Undo me with magic of your tongue,
In a sweet love ballad, a lazy whisper,
And the curl of your lips as you pout,
In a mock sulk, like the baby you are-
A young heart in a woman’s dress.
Blind me with the shine of your smile,
And the glint of your teeth in a merry grin,
In mischievous sneer or unbridled happiness,
Bright as a milky way in a moonless night,
Lighting my night when the moon won’t shine.
Mesmerize me with the dance in your step,
And the sway of your hips in measured walk,
The heave of your bosom in unbridled laughter,
The angelic crane of your neck, like a painter’s model
And I’ll paint you on the tablet of my heart.
I am amazed by the humility in your heart.
And the genius of your sober mind.
Though fairer than most, even all,
Like a bridled horse you rein your pride,
In measured words and careful steps.
My beloved I am yours and you, mine
A willing captive of your endless charm,
I’ll ever explore the mystery you are.
My beloved I am yours and you, mine,
To ever love, to ever cherish and forever hold.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Poets, win Kshs. 1,000
Poets, win Kshs. 1,000 when your poem is selected as the poem of the week!
As promised, the poetry competition is on and popping. Poets now have a chance to win a thousand Kenya shillings in appreciation of their creative works. To enter the competition, send your poem to poetry@bernardmuhia.com
Only poems sent to this email address will be considered. The winning poem will make its debut along with my new website on the 15th of November 2010 http://www.bernardmuhia.co
Submission guidelines:
1. Include the title of the poem in the subject of the email as well as in the body of the email.
2.Include your names, as you want them to appear in the credits.
3.Only one poem per email.
4. All forms of poetry are acceptable.
The deadline for submissions is midnight November 5th 2010. May the freshest poem win.
After the November 15th launch, this poetry competition will be a weekly feature of the website, so keep participating to continue winning.
As promised, the poetry competition is on and popping. Poets now have a chance to win a thousand Kenya shillings in appreciation of their creative works. To enter the competition, send your poem to poetry@bernardmuhia.com
Only poems sent to this email address will be considered. The winning poem will make its debut along with my new website on the 15th of November 2010 http://www.bernardmuhia.co
Submission guidelines:
1. Include the title of the poem in the subject of the email as well as in the body of the email.
2.Include your names, as you want them to appear in the credits.
3.Only one poem per email.
4. All forms of poetry are acceptable.
The deadline for submissions is midnight November 5th 2010. May the freshest poem win.
After the November 15th launch, this poetry competition will be a weekly feature of the website, so keep participating to continue winning.
Monday, October 18, 2010
ALLEGIANCE SHIFT
The love you professed was
A seething stockfish studded
Pot of soup whose aroma
Could be smelled from afar
But the latest oozes a sell out stench
That of a saboteur's territory overrun
With ease by an army of occupation
A swift and stunning operation
Rules, regulations and laws overturned
With cowing decrees flashing red
In one eagle-like fell swoop
Your heart now on parade
Is but a decoy
The device of an Intelligence Chief
Your allegiance of yore having been moved
To dwell with a strange private
Your secret made naked by your coldness
And the void in your nude eyes
The mirror that exposes the devious
Designs and devices of your heart
Sold cheaply to a stranger on rampage
An open classified information
It is that that half of you
That was me is in protracted coma
Being strangled by your indifference.
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