The lines below are excerpted (by Anne Sorbie MA) from the manuscript, Poetry DNA / Midnight Monologues, and specifically from the poem, “DREAMS OF MY ANCESTOR: A dedication to my mother,” by Zimbabwean poet, Mbizo Chirashsa.

 

A Dedication To My (M)other

As I dangled on your struggle – hardened back

I carved poetry from your sweet lullabies

and grieving hymns

became a griot before teething

…

You remain my Goddess of all time

On the day of my birthing

the moon was torn into two halves

wind raged           a storm ensued

thunder clapped the red earth

lightning bolts cracked in synchrony with gunshots

The rat-a-tat of pelting raindrops

witnessed your labour

…

Father named me, Gandanga reChimurenga

…

I grew perfectly

like a sweet potato enjoying the caress of red earth

Years stewed into decades and

decades fried themselves into another century

…

I dreamt of you Mother, wearing a sparkling silver wedding dress

walking side by side with the Great King of all time

…

A wedding song boomed feverishly

…

I can’t remember the singer, but I remember the beautiful poetics

Vul’indlela wemamgobhozi
He unyana wam
Helele uyashada namhlanje

 

…

Recently the devil birthed a cruel goblin of a son called Corona

Every door of every home was locked

Every gate of every country was locked

Dear Goddess

I was not there to cast the last lump of shovel dust

to say, Goodbye spirit Queen

…

My heart caves bleed with grief

Every day I see you floating in the mist of dawn

and later

in the cloaked night of harmony

Fambai Zvakanaka Shoko

Makwiramiti, mahomu-homu
Vanopona nekuba
Vanamushamba negore
Makumbo mana muswe weshanu
Hekani Soko yangu yiyi
Vakaera mutupo umwe nashe
Vana Va Pfumojena
Vakabva Guruuswa
Soko Mbire ya Svosve
Vanobva Hwedza
Vapfuri vemhangura
Veku Matonjeni vanaisi vemvura
Zvaitwa matarira vari mumabwe
Mhanimani tonodya, svosve tichobovera
Maita zvenyu rudzi rukuru
Matangakugara
Vakawana ushe neuchenjeri
Vakufamba hujeukidza kwandabva
Pagerwe rinongova jemedzanwa
Kugara hukwenya-kwenya
Vari mawere maramba kurimba
Vamazvikongonyadza kufamba hukanya
Zvibwezvitedza, zvinotedzera vari kure
Asi vari padyo vachitamba nazvo
Zvaitwa mukanya rudzi rusina chiramwa
Maita vari Makoromokwa, Mugarandaguta
Aiwa zvaonekwa Vhudzijena

You remain

the Goddess of all time.

 

Mbizo CHIRASHA, the Author of a Letter to the President and Pilgrims of Zame, also co-Authored Whispering Woes of Ganges and Zambezi, Street Voices Poetry Collection (Germany Africa Poetry Anthology), Corpses of Unity Anthology.  Associate Editor at  Diasporia(n) online. Chief Editor at Time of the Poet Republic. Founding Editor at WomaWords Literary Press. Publisher at Brave Voices Poetry journal.  Curator at Africa Writers Caravan. UNESCO-RILA Affiliate Artist at University of Glasgow. 2020 Poet in Residence Fictional Café. 2019 African Fellow, IHRAF.ORG. Project Curator and Co-Editor of the Second Name of Earth is Peace (Poetry Voices Against WAR Anthology). Contributing Essayist to Monk Arts and Soul Magazine.  Poetry and writings appear in  FemAsia Magazine, Wrath-Bearing Tree, Ink Sweat and Tears Journal , One Ghana One Magazine, Ofi Press, World Poetry Almanac, Demer Press , Atunis Galaxy poetry online, IHRAF Publishes, The Poet a Day, Bezine.Com, Sentinel UK, Oxford School of Poetry Pamphlet, Africa Crayons, PulpitMagazine, Poetry Pacific, Zimbolicious, Best New Poets, Poetry Bulawayo, Gramnet webjournal, Diogen Plus, Poeisis.si, Festival de Poesia Medellin and elsewhere.

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