By Tom Jalio Download pdf epub html
You
can tell by the shape of the pieces
can tell by the shape of the pieces
The
trailing blood and the aura of warmth
trailing blood and the aura of warmth
That
there was once a heart here
there was once a heart here
And
the winds of memory floating by
the winds of memory floating by
Still
fan the flame that raged in it
fan the flame that raged in it
You
can gauge from the markings on the walls
can gauge from the markings on the walls
The
piercing font and the scrambled letters
piercing font and the scrambled letters
That
a name was etched by cupid’s arrow
a name was etched by cupid’s arrow
And
the sunset glow of the text
the sunset glow of the text
Still
hints of a golden history
hints of a golden history
You
can sense from the tremble of the chambers
can sense from the tremble of the chambers
The
undying pulse and the scent of a beloved
undying pulse and the scent of a beloved
That
the heart once danced to a dreamer’s beat
the heart once danced to a dreamer’s beat
And
the hollow ring of wedding bells
the hollow ring of wedding bells
Still
haunts what could have been
haunts what could have been
You
can taste in the beads of water
can taste in the beads of water
The
pouring rain and the salty puddles
pouring rain and the salty puddles
That
tears are words the heart can’t express
tears are words the heart can’t express
And
the cloud that sheds them
the cloud that sheds them
Still
leaves “goodbye” behind
leaves “goodbye” behind
You
can see in the drag of finger prints
can see in the drag of finger prints
The
gathering mass and the mist of sweat
gathering mass and the mist of sweat
That
someone is slowly collecting the pieces
someone is slowly collecting the pieces
But the feeling that used to live here
Still
hides in the shadows of the heart
hides in the shadows of the heart
≈≈
You can watch Tom Jalio read his
winning poem, There Was Once Something Special Here, on YouTube.
winning poem, There Was Once Something Special Here, on YouTube.
≈≈
≈≈
Tom Jalio was
born and bred in Kenya. His poem, There Was Once Something Special Here, won
the BN Poetry Awards for 2014, earning him a cash prize of 1,000 US Dollars and
an autographed copy of Wheels by Kwame Dawes. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in
Journalism and Media Studies from the University of Nairobi. As an editor for
Master Publishing, he has helped produce nearly twenty fiction and non-fiction
titles. He attended the 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair under the auspices of the
Kenya ICT Board’s Tandaa Digital Content grant. Tom is a soft-spoken introvert
who finds his voice in the written word. He sees humour in the mundane and
poetry in the tragic, and expresses that in his writings. He’s mostly done creative nonfiction but is now
venturing to literary fiction. His features, short stories, and poems have been
published in over ten magazines, newspapers, and
anthologies.
born and bred in Kenya. His poem, There Was Once Something Special Here, won
the BN Poetry Awards for 2014, earning him a cash prize of 1,000 US Dollars and
an autographed copy of Wheels by Kwame Dawes. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in
Journalism and Media Studies from the University of Nairobi. As an editor for
Master Publishing, he has helped produce nearly twenty fiction and non-fiction
titles. He attended the 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair under the auspices of the
Kenya ICT Board’s Tandaa Digital Content grant. Tom is a soft-spoken introvert
who finds his voice in the written word. He sees humour in the mundane and
poetry in the tragic, and expresses that in his writings. He’s mostly done creative nonfiction but is now
venturing to literary fiction. His features, short stories, and poems have been
published in over ten magazines, newspapers, and
anthologies.
≈≈
You Might Also Enjoy Other Articles in this Issue
Cover Artwork: Life in Question ~~ Charity Atukunda
Short Fiction
Babysitting Sweetheart ~~ Davina P. Kawuma
Flowers ~~ Doreen Anyango
When the Rains Came ~~ Proscovia Akello
The Husband Snatcher ~~ Ayobami Adebayo
Poetry
Fumbo ~~ Regina Asinde
Should I ~~ Emilly Achieng
Let Me Stay ~~ Redscar McOdindoK’Oyuga
Waking Up ~~ Efe Tokunbo
Seek Me Not ~~ Redscar McOdindoK’Oyuga
No Change ~~ Regina Asinde
Spoken Word
A New Prayer ~~ Gloria Kiconco
Special Section: BN Poetry Awards
There Was Once Something Special Here ~~ Tom Jalio
Blood and Water ~~ Elizabeth Muchemwa
Insane Living ~~ DorothieAyebazibwe
