1914-2000 Poem by Job Kasambyo

I travel to distant lands
to war or to peace
I shall fight
where no mortal man has gone, go
I dance with the gods
resurrect
to my new name.
Pray I sing with the spirits
ascend
with my ageless voice;
words from worlds unknown
On my hands magic
from the dwellers of the moons and the
stars
to curse and bless
and heal mortal man.
May I smoke gracefully
to my immortality
And drink mightily
like a carefree son of God
I will marry the goddess of a far land
a woman whose wisdom and strength
rivals the gods
Four
my father's spirit
awed and feared by the Worlds
Let them be her seed.
I will now grow my grandfather's afro
and get my earlobe, like his, pierced.
Come
I am old,
let me bless you,
my seed.
And show my son's son how to fly an
aerplane.
Then with my Book
sitting
listening to classical music
on my armchair
with my walking stick
at my balcony
silently smoking my tobacco
and drinking my whiskey
watching my grandchildren fight
I take a mirror
I smile.
Having walked and driven and flown.
A king.
Now I may descend
to my people.
My blood is divine
My forefathers more gods than men.
(In memory of my grandfather: Kasambyo
Mbeni I.)