I have not written here in so long. What better way to come back into the game than with a piece of writing about something I hold so dear?
For context, ‘Angaza’ is Swahili for shine/illuminate. We chose it to represent all the light the children we work with will beam into the world. Our Angaza program is not just about children learning to read and write better, but also changing the world in their own little ways.
I will not say much more. Let me go ahead and share this beautiful piece by one of our volunteers.
Let there be light that burns like the midnight oil
Like candle wax that drips like sweat
Or the tears of a parent
Or the glint of rainbow hues
Sparkling through the dews on morning grass – bare cracked feet swooshing past
Wading through swamps – feet lifted dainty like the hem of a skirt
Trudging over hot sand – one eye out for snakes and such…
It is said that in the olden days, finding knowledge was harsh
Now we realise that it’s gotten much worse
But beneath the light of Angaza –
Watch how the ground is compelled to split in half
How the seeds that fell along the path and on the rocks and among the thorns-
Sprout and curve
Stop a moment and make low bows to the clouds
Discern then how their branches rapidly spread
How the roots reach for further depth
These roots of seeds that refused to be eaten by the birds;
Or scorched by the sun, or choked at the neck
Like a tenacious truth
First whispered in a quiet room
Swelling and gaining strength and attaining shape
Till one day they’ll hold sway over cities and hills and plains
Casting their shade – dropping their leaves in a gentle hail
Healing the turbulent;
And spelling doom to fear and ignorance.
So let us then;
We Guardians of this Light never let it blaze in vain
I too by the power of Angaza have been compelled
Heartbeat, quickening in tune with the way our minds race
Fist pressed close against the chest
Glance lifted like the chin
Hallucinating in retrospect
Writing this vision like a letter and spreading the word
this is indeed such a beautiful piece….thanks for sharing Esther and welcome back to the posting life, yay
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Oh my! I love it.
I reread it in a child’s voice and it was even more beautiful
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This is so beautiful 😍 .
It surely should be this way
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