Swallow Me



Swallow me whole
without sedation.

Sample the truth
my heart's vibration.

Limb by limb
take me in.

In every crevice
you will find
Hints
Teetering, dancing
around life's rim.

Swallow
lest the precipice
invites me in.

Swallow me whole
Smack your lips
Seal them with
my single wish

Brimful,
the Marrow Of My Love.

Mama Shujaa.

**First published on July 8, 2009**
Copyright © Mama Shujaa 2009. All Rights Reserved

Comments

  1. TamakuJuly 8, 2009 at 12:49 PM

    Wow just wow and brilliant! It's like a ripple from the deepest well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnengiyefaJuly 8, 2009 at 5:03 PM

    Yes I agree its deep and well written. I promised I wouldn't pretend, so everything I'm saying comes from the bottom of my heart. :-)

    By the way, perhaps Mama Shujaa should say what her thought processes were, what inspired the particular words and the construction of the poem, as this may give it some perspective and shed some light on it, for the benefit of those of us who struggle with poems.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 8, 2009 at 6:30 PM

    Mama Shujaa,

    I am in awe of the depth of your inspiration. You conjure images that evoke emotions with such sensuality.

    Oh Mama Shujaa, thank you.

    BD.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 9, 2009 at 6:24 AM

    Dear Tamaku,

    Thanks. The truth is, I felt a sense of relief after I wrote it. I wish for more instances like that.

    xxx

    Mama Shujaa.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 9, 2009 at 6:34 AM

    Dear Anengiyefa,

    THANK YOU for the truth! :-)

    I'd love to shed some light on the poem and its origination. But then I am afraid to influence a reader or two in their swallowing...

    I will say that you provided some of the inspiration in your very honest post "What is poetry anyway?"

    Will it be a stretch if for now, I quote Chinua Achebe here with

    "proverbs are the palm wine with which words are eaten?"

    xxx
    Mama Shujaa

    ReplyDelete
  6. MBB Founder and Editor Denene MillnerJuly 9, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    You better write, baby. Write! What a beautiful collection of words and thoughts... thank you for that!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 9, 2009 at 9:01 AM

    The full fruit picture helps clarify the image of the poetry: juicy, curvy, crevices? difficulty at the same time to swallow the whole yet very tempting due to the fullness, redness, smootheness and softness to the touch especially for the impatient, hungry one for who its been a long time since?...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 9, 2009 at 9:20 AM

    Denene my dear,

    Thanks and good to see you here after soooo long. Have you been busy with another novel?

    xxx
    Mama Shujaa.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 9, 2009 at 9:38 AM

    Wow! Anonymous,

    That is a lovely interpretation/revelation...
    :-)

    Mama Shujaa.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shiko-MsaJuly 10, 2009 at 5:13 AM

    Someone please teach me poetry. It's so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A Cuban In LondonJuly 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM

    OK, just let me pause and catch my breath back. You know, poems like that one can give one a heart attack, dear :-).

    The picture, oh, a ripe peach? nectarine? I can't tell them apart.

    Many thanks. You know that new tune called 'You Knock Me Down'? Well, guess what, your poem just did.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 10, 2009 at 12:18 PM

    Shiko-Msa wangu - asante dadangu for the comment.

    A Cuban In London: :-) My friend you must be talking about the new one with Keri Hilson and Kanye West? If memory serves me you are supposed to "...get right back up when love knocks you down, knocks you down..." :-)

    And that is a peach. It is the Official State Fruit of Georgia. So you can imagine all the lovely peaches we have here...!

    Mama Shujaa.

    ReplyDelete
  13. MaithriJuly 11, 2009 at 9:31 AM

    I love it!!

    Your words are ripe with love Mama,

    Peace and love to you, M

    ReplyDelete
  14. T.AllenJuly 14, 2009 at 3:17 AM

    beautiful. i read it twice, and smiled each time.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 14, 2009 at 9:37 AM

    Thank you Maithri and T. Allen-Mercado; I think that was why I felt compelled to write this - it was ripe and ready to be eaten, chewed, swallowed.

    And it is all my friend Anengiyefa's fault! Do it again please, challenge me. :-) And since folks have commented and shared their thoughts, I'm happy to respond to your request:

    "By the way, perhaps Mama Shujaa should say what her thought processes were, what inspired the particular words and the construction of the poem, as this may give it some perspective and shed some light on it, for the benefit of those of us who struggle with poems."

    I was thinking about Michael Jackson, mourning his death. Combine this with your "what is it about poetry" post. Then add my personal life experiences (I was a very shy young one growing up); MJ's deep need to be accepted/understood/heard. On my choice of words, it's a creative process, they just came to me; they turned out to be sensual. In a nutshell, I just wanted you and others to swallow me whole; take me in totality; the good, the bad. Without sedation - feel the reality of life's tribulations. Because, from the bottom of my heart, truth is freeing. Limb by limb - line by line - take it all in with love.

    Thank you everyone for your comments and feedback.

    Siku njema!
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sarah LaurenceJuly 15, 2009 at 4:18 PM

    I love this: title, image and poem. This is a most sensuous and delicious post. Perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lyrically speakingJuly 18, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    OMG, the first sentence of this piece really got to me, lol, I am loving your blog, so glad I stumbled upon it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 18, 2009 at 5:14 PM

    Dear Sarah, it is kind of amazing to me how I put it all together in a very short time. I suppose I was working off adrenaline. If fueled my creativity. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hana Njau-OkoloJuly 18, 2009 at 5:16 PM

    Hi there Lyrically Speaking. Welcome and thanks so much. Your name is the beginning of something, a sentence, a story, a poem...Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Cynthia PittmannJuly 19, 2009 at 9:17 AM

    Oh Mama Shujaa, what a lovely intensely visceral poem. If a poem could be physical this one is. Thanks for reaching out with your entire being in this poem. <3

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousOctober 27, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    You know my sister,

    I remembered this one... as if it were yesterday. And enjoyed it again as if were the first time. your signature passion goes before you and makes the way... I was in Kenya this year... working with the Orma people near Malindi and the Dassanach people in Illeret.

    Blessings of love my friend,

    Maithri

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hana Njau-OkoloOctober 27, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    Dr. Maithri!!! Thank you for the note and for the update on your never ending good work - your new video blog, and possible dreams... I can't wait to visit and catch up...how long you were in Kenya... So good to hear from you.

    Mingi love to you,
    Hana.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sarah LaurenceOctober 31, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    This poem and image was familiar and now I see why. I love it even more the second time round. Sorry to be so slow to visit. You know life is crazy when Halloween with a house full of teenaged girls in costumes feels like a quiet night at home!

    ReplyDelete
  24. A Cuban In LondonNovember 13, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    You left me speechless and gasping for air. How? Why? What? Sorry, that was one of the most intense and beautiful poems I've ever read in my life. I swallowed every single line of it. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete

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