And the word was Life

Let the ‘L’ gently come from the tongue

as it touches the upper gum of your tender mouth

let the ‘I’ fly lightly toward the fricative ‘F’

and let ‘E’ be the silent witness.

‘Life’. It’s easy to say.

Authentic and yet unassuming, non-judgmental.

It precedes ideology and makes every assumption

a conceit.

Say ‘Maisha’ like the mothers of Africa.

Say ‘Shxweli’ like the people of the river.

(from Infinite Power, Ekstasis 2016)