THE VOICE OF A POET

Judge me in the morning, While the gentle rays of the sun whisper and dance at dawn, Before the deceptive warmth that caresses my body is withdrawn, And the gentle rays disappear like dew on a morning run, To be replaced instead by the scorching afternoon sun. Judge me in the morning, While the day is still young, virgin and nubile, When my dreams are still sharp and virile, Before time goes and their clarity is eroded, And the sharpness of my vision is slowly corroded. Judge me in the morning, Allow me the chance to valiantly defend my name, Even though my efforts may fail and I end up in shame, Let the light shine on me as I face the adverse claim, So that with courage and valor I may shoulder my blame. Judge me in the morning, Let me face my accusers in the glory of morning light, Let me stare at them from the pedestal of the dock's height, Let them know that I never went down without a fight, Let me torment their dreams henceforth for every night. © Pato

I take this nostalgic trip four years down the memory lanes, Viewing my life from yonder like a film shielded by glass panes, Staring at pleasures of joys past and the scars of gone pains, Marveling at the depth of new-found wisdom and experience gains, As the curtain cascades downwards,It is the end of an era. Staring at my younger self,I can't help but marvel at how time has flown, The innocent boy is gone,taken by the winds of change that have blown, Past me with speed and force, and in his place a young man has grown, Teeming with eagerness and haste to face the world and win his crown, As the curtain cascades downwards, It is the end of an era. I walk past the trails of juvenile heartbreaks and gigantic crushes, Smiling with nostalgia at the countless barrels of wasted tears, Laughing at the wasted efforts and endless adrenaline rushes, Amused by the teething mistakes and groundless fears, As the curtain cascades downwards,It is the end of an era. © Patolyer

W e are Kenyan, we are one, E ven when terror spews, from the muzzle of your guns, S hattering so many lives, and leaving our peace undone, T he heartbeat of our nation, left exposed and prone, G ingerly we may step from our wounds, but our spirit is unbowed, A s we press on against terror, our courage is uncowed, T he Kenyan spirit, is stronger than ever and alive, E very death and injury has strengthened our resolve, together as one we shall survive. © Patolyer 2013.

Happiness is that feeling of utter bliss, The dizzying pleasure of a stolen kiss, The cheeky wink of a naughty tease, That will never leave You ill at ease. Happiness is a roaring wind, Pulsing and soaring with force and greed, Devouring and tearing it all to feed, An insatiable appetite to grow and breed. Happiness is like that beautiful dream, On a cloud floating to a glorious realm, Massaged by the wind and caressed by steam, Enchanting like the glow of a moonlight  beam. Happiness is that bubbly and wonderful  feeling, Of passion that leaves us wobbly and reeling, The inexplicable joy that brings cures and healing, To a heart so hurt that it's crawling and bleeding. Happiness is a choice, To press on despite the falling ice, And season your life with some warmth and spice, To value your heart above any price. © Patolyer 2013.

Love and wisdom, More Intimate Than an exchange between a tender bridegroom and his bride Combination Clear like a foetus thought and pure as a virgins kiss Much sweeter than her tease Twice fold noble as a sturdy horse Yet opposite like a gun and a rose No wisdom in love Or should I say no love in wisdom Which is which, I can barely fathom For in love even the wisest minds sleep And in wisdom the purest heart cheat Lack of love just reason, minds marry and can't keep Without wisdom but only passion, hearts bond and later bleed Wisdom is organized love Love is accessed wisdom In affection devoid of wisdom man take other man's life In reason a lawyer put passion of heat as a defense And in wisdom devoid of affection the judge lessen the sentence What anomaly Wisdom feel life but think of death Love feels of only bliss Because for wisdom its foolishness to think of happiness Love and wisdom Both treat each other with sheer suspicion Love sees wisdom as so immoral an

I won't give my heart to You again, Despite the pleas and assurances,You apply my trust to gain, For when You broke my heart, I left and faced the pain, Alone and conquered, from your love broke the chains. I was never out of options when I made You my choice, Saw you as my guiding light amidst the chaos and the noise, I ignored the warnings and never raised my voice, Not knowing you were leading my heart towards a shattering demise. I fell headlong,heart first for your beauty driven by lust, Confused by the raging desire that our love would last, Never imagining  that it was just an act that was being cast, So when the curtains fell it would all be in the past. I refuse to be pulled back by the memories of the sweet moments we shared, Nor to be held captive by the sacrifices You made and the heart you bared, For I discovered I was wrong, all along, to think that You cared, For if You did, breaking my heart You'd have never dared. I am glad its over for I

Tema yaliyo moyoni, Sema nami kilicho rohoni, Nena yasijejaa hadi pomoni, Yakakuziba na kukaba kooni. Uamkapo livalie tabasamu usoni, Utembeapo tafakari hili fikirani, Tia bidii ndo unoge kwa fani, Upate raha ukabarizi jioni. Yachague kwa makini yako maneno, Kwani yana ncha mbili kama msumeno, Yawe ya kufaa na kupigiwa mfano, Upate furaha kupitia kila vuno. Ninaposema nisikize kwa makini, Ninapotema nielewe ewe mwandani, Haya maisha ni ya ajabu iso kifani, Yachangamsha na kustaajabisha bila utani. © Patolyer 2013

I hear to the distant chime and toll of the cathedral bell, It's mournful ring whispering to my soul that all is not well, It seeps into my conscience and taunts like a demon from hell, The anguish tormenting my soul in ways I cannot tell. My freedom is tainted and my glow is gone, For the devil painted my world and left an empty cone, I nearly fainted as I teetered and tottered, totally driven by the alluring tone, Dancing to the cruel rhythm to which my life seems drawn. The reality dawns, suddenly like stones in a shower of hail, Shocking my heart and soul and drowning my painful wail, From the realization that I just missed the devils tail, And missed and encounter with the grim reaper,just about to set sail.   © Patolyer 2013