I know
that when a grumbling old woman
Is the first thing I meet in the morning
I must rush back to bed
and cover my head
That wandering sheep on a sultry afternoon,
Are really men come from their dark graves
To walk in light
in mortal sight
That when my left hand or eyelid twitches
Or when an owl hoots from a nearby tree
I should need pluck
It means bad luck
That drink spilled goes to ancestral spirits
That witches dance in clumps of bananas
That crumbs must be left in pots and plates
until the morn
For babes unborn
That it's wrong to stand in the doorways at dusk
For ghosts must pass- they have right of way!
That when a hidden root trips me over
Faults not in my foot
It's an evil root
That when I sleep with feet towards the door,
I'll not long be fit
I know it - Yes I know it
Minji Karibo
I did a lot of public speaking or verse speaking in my formative years in primary school. This was competitive and on two occasions I got to the National level during the then famous music festivals.
ReplyDeleteThe poem above, which I can still recite by heart is one of my favorites that took me to the national limelight.
It forms part of my passions hence why I reproduce it here alongside others
Hallo Ken, I am Henrietta Klaasing from South Africa - sorry, not as easy to remember as "Ken from Kenya"! I taught the poem "Superstition" written by Minji Karibo to student-teachers some years ago. I took I wild chance of getting the words on the internet, and lo and behold! out they popped here on your blog! Thanks so much for posting. Kind greetings from the southern most point of Africa.
ReplyDeleteHenrietta,a year down i respond to your post, how effective! I am glad that I was a good netizen and was able to help out. Keep well
DeleteGcinikhaya Baleka from RSA, Eastern Cape. This was my best poem which was taught to me by the year 1989 doing my standard six in the former Transkei region. Even today, I do experience the content of this poem and conjure my superstitions.
ReplyDeleteMinji Karibo, long live!
I read this poem probably in 1972. My bigger sisters used it in competitive recitation. My children's father is acting like some one you don't want to meet in life not to talk of first thing in the morning. He is bad luck personified.Grumbling lying old man. Mary Ejiogu
ReplyDelete