kijiji changu darisalama
nikupe pole au hongera
sijui
nimechanganyikiwamabenki yanakomboa
majengo yanashindana
majina yako Mwalimu[1]
yamepamba vituo vya BiAraTi[2]
na vioski vya Vodakominikuiteje, wangu darisalama
bandari ya wasalama?
au ya walafi na walofa?
sijui
nimechanganyikiwa
~~~
Dar es Salaam II
My village Dar es Salaam
Shall I pity or congratulate you
I don’t know
I am confusedBanks liberate
High-rise compete
Your name Mwalimu[3]
decorates BRT[4] stops
and Vodacom kiosksHow shall I call you, my Dar es Salaam
Haven of Peace?
Or of greed and loafers?
I don’t know
I am confusedDecember 24, 2017