Till Death Poem by Merlin Mwaura

Till Death.

There are things I want in life…
But if this things deprive me,
What is most important of all…
Then I will gladly rid myself of that need,
I will try being,
Without this.

Till death,
Should life change in the process,
Make more meaning than it already is
Give more sense,
Tame these wild inclinations in me,
Should I learn how to crawl out of the dark,
Share in the light,
Open my eyes and see,
The beautiful things here.

Should I then,
make haste towards my God,
Thank my existence,
Make a legacy,
Timid as it may be,
I shall hope I made a difference.
With a tune or without,
With my lady and dance…
I will tell tales to my young,
How once I was a lad…
With Great Spirit and dream…

I shall make mine the strings,
Play a long yearn to the heavens,
Play music unheard,
I will tear down my clothes,
Walk into the pool of many waters,
Feel it caress my nudeness…
Surrender to this violation,
For I shall have welcomed it.

I will let her eyes unsettle me,
I will look head on…
Maybe let off a smile,
And when my heart betrays me,
I will pretend it was nothing!
Till death,
I will not be easy and predictable.
Rouse curiosity for I can be,
Amazing and sensational.

Till death,
I will take none for granted,
A charm is always nice,
So is indulgence in dialogue…
I will hold those little hands,
And let their innocence slay me,
Hear their chattering,
Laugh at the little marvels,
Treasures from maternity wards.

Till death,
I will speak the truth quietly,
I will creep through the covetous,
Through they who bite and stab in the back,
I will crawl among the desolate,
Learn their secrets,
See them for who they are.
I will stoop to the very lows,
Emerge when they speak,
For I will stare into their eyes,
They need not lie while am here.

Till death,
I will know good music when I hear it….
I will know good character when am with them,
I will know talent when it marvels me,
I will smile at humour,
I will lust after beauty,
Love the heart.
If nature demands it, I shall be emotional!
If destiny chooses it, I shall steward it.
If am but a vessel…
I will overflow with content…

If there is light, I shall follow,
In the dark I shall wait…
Fight if I must, with the strange and unfamiliar…
I will enjoy the test of pain,
Bleed if I must,
Conquer the blade…
Shift the wind…
Am not Samurai,
But my soul is its own master.
Taught me great things on the way,
Till death when I walk in her element,
That spirit which I call soul,
Let a drum beat,
Join me with the rhythm of my land,
The great hooves of the wildebeests,
The trump of the elephant,
The soft paw of Simba and Cheetah,
Make me one with these beasts,
Let that mourn curve in the hills…
Around her breasts,
My lover’s hair!
With the water that she bathes…
The air that she breathes,
Sing a song of the triumphant,
When this poet is no more,
Till death,
And when am gone.