Hearts Do Throb Poem by Hannington Mumo

(For Kenyan athletes assiduously winning medals in Commonwealth games in Delhi, India; 13th October 2010)

A patriot to death my heart does with satisfaction throb
For yours is praiseworthy an effort and so sterling a job;
You’ve crowned us with gold and silver and bronze
And which is pricelessly more, a dignity so noble
That our hearts do throb with pride and dance.

The world would better about us embrace second a thought,
For this is a country where impossibilities are fought
And defeated to clinch victory which mediocre heads
Would best imagine with tails between their legs;
But not the champions in Delhi who know no bounds,
Who fill our hearts with triumphant songs and sounds
And with fresh unsung music the hearts do throb.

I fancy more for this outlandish land the Almighty is about to let,
And it will be in a desert an oasis of charm and cheer I bet.