Written by Sheila Kal
Sing
Say your name. Say your name
Say your name. Say your name
Baby, say your name.
Say your own name
Oh mimi sitajisahau (I will not forget myself)
Sitajisahau. Juu tu ya dunia… ( I will not forget myself because of this world…)
I found myself
again
Not in the sky as I’d thought but
in-between the days when
my eyes have caught specks
of the light inside me and
my ears are tuned to the music
in my heart. Steadily
my belly is growing with
my artistic needs, my self-esteem
and a yearning I no longer ignore
nor deny.
I’ve stopped trying to discipline my dreadlocks
They can stick out of the bun I meticulously
worked on this morning and point out
in every direction. Perhaps, like my crown,
I am everywhere, a wanderer; not lost
only travelling, exploring
Sing
Say your name
Say your own name …
About the Writer:
Sheila is a Kenyan poet, student, thinker and graduate of the 2024 Adventures Creators Programme. This series follows her reflections on life in Japan and the transformative power of travel and exploring new cultures.