Aaron Dominic was a young man that I had the privilege to get to know while I was in Tanzania. While a child Aaron traveled hundreds of miles across Tanzania to the city of Arusha because his family was to poor to care for him. He lived for about two years on the street before he came to the centre where I worked at. There he was fortunate to receive some education and is currently in Form 4.  I was also privileged to learn that he had a hidden talent, poetry. After reading several of his poems that he had hidden under his mattress I encouraged him to continue writing. By the time I left the centre for street children 3 months later he had over 60 poems written. Here are a couple of my favorites.

   The Deer and the Lion.

The deer put his head down.

While the lion put on the crown.

His leader was a strong one.

He roared in the wilderness angrily.

The deer ate in the meadow unhappily.

The lion was ungrateful.

He’d never be dutiful.

The deer was regretful.

The deer always put his head down.

                  Half of the World

We can’t be the lovers to love these days.

We can’t be the founders to pave the ways.

We truly don’t bear when our desire dies.

We still wish anybody to hear our agonizing cries.

As we make the funeral celebration.

To dig up the graves for the next generation.

We can’t watch this as we fall.

We will raise our high voices to call.

You the master of the world to help.

But we fear you when your fierce dogs yelp.

We want to know how you live curiously.

But you will answer us furiously.

               Crying for Tanzania

The blessed land which raised up my mother.

You never stop loving my young brother.

Your love is what I most depend.

Your honour is what I’ll defend.

As you guide me from January to December.

Your good manner to love me to remember.

You tell me the stories of heroes before I sleep.

The promise of taking care of you I’ll always keep.

I’ll go wherever but I’ll come back here to stay.

I’ll be told to go against you but I can’t betray.

I know you will let me to meet my fate.

And you will never teach me to hate.

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