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Compiled by Munyal Markus Manunyi
There’s a popular notion that Poets make good lovers, they craftily express love with beautiful words that flow from deep within the chambers of their hearts.
It was a battle of words among Poets on Tuesday, 4th May, 2021, as the International African Writers Association (IAWA), Malawi branch, under the leadership of:
Ancient Mhone Alinafe – National president
Tadala Nkaunane – National Vice President
Muhammed Issah – National Secretary, conducted a ‘Brain Teaser’ Poetry contest centered on the theme; Love.
The contest was aimed at testing the writing skills of poets in IAWA Malawi branch, to ascertain their areas of strengths and weaknesses. Having a good knowledge of their weaknesses enables the leaders to know which areas of poetry writing needs concentration when tutoring them on the art of creative writing. A careful but critical scrutiny was carried out on each submitted poem, and Juniah Ngwira’s poem titled: ‘Trails’ found the center stage in the hearts of the judges.
POEM OF THE WEEK
‘TRAILS‘
By Juniah Ngwira (IAWA Malawi)
Cruising side by side
Through life’s ups and downs
Sometimes riding on tortoise’s back
Others hanging on deer’s hind legs
Yet both beautiful
Watching a thousand sunrises and sets
Sometimes beads of sorrow drenching pillows
Others stitched with laughter till ribs ache
Yet both amazing
Hair streaks turning grey
Wrinkles replacing silky skin
Jaws sinking in toothlessness
Yet smiles still deepened in brightness
Sometimes thoughts sunk in amnesia
Other times memories written on hearts inkpad
Leaving footprints, indelible trail
Yet both wonderful
When sleep finally comes
Hands entwined to the end
Till warmth disappear
Thousand kisses lasting a lifetime
About the Poet
Juniah Sophie Ngwira is a self-published writer (poet, short story writer and a novelist). She mostly writes about the struggles of women. Born on 14th March 1989, she’s the first born in a family of four. She has a Facebook page “diary of a single mom” where she published a novella titled: “diary of a single mom”. She has several other short stories and poems. Aside from being a writer, she is also a marketer and a baker.
In this poem Trial by Juniah, she demonstrated a pure love shared by an old couple clearly seen as ‘love birds’, sitting ‘side by side’ as expressed in lines one, stanza one. Obviously, the strong connection of love shared by this old couple is no doubt an endearing one. Despite having passed through hurdles of ‘ups and downs’, drenching in ‘beads of sorrows’, Sometimes thoughts sunk in amnesia, other times memories written on hearts inkpad leaving footprints, indelible trail…’Yet smiles still deepened in brightness’. The real definition of love is found in these few lines. Love encompasses the ability to smile and show love despite life’s trivialities. The poem itself set a good example for us humans, to emulate in our day to day dealings with one another.
Munyal Markus Manunyi is Global President,
International African Writers Association.
Email: [email protected]
