PATIENCE MUSA
Chitubu cheNduri is a new compilation of Shona poems by twenty-two poets.
The title itself expresses the overflowing talent the wordsmiths have which gives glory to the creator.
The idea of compiling the poems came from Prosper Njeke one of the participating poets.
Tinashe Muchuri edited the book with the help of assistant editors Edwin Msipa, Prosper Njeke, Lazarus Sauti, Oscar Gwiriri, and Brighton Simbarashe Chiguma.
The book cover illustration was done by Paul Chirodza, the perfect drawing of women filling up their water pots from an over flowing spring.
For those that look for hope in poetry, one might have found inspiration in the verses of old, afraid to explore current poetry.
Fearing, it may be filled with depressing themes of apocalypse and end of days because of the darkness that Covid-19 has brought with it.
This compilation is a delightful opposite.
The 122 page gem, explores everything from religion, romance, pain and suffering as well as the beauty of the world. The poems each bring forth a quietness, that is loud with emotion and heavy with technical prowess.
Prosper Njeke, Bitwell Moyo, Abel Mauchi, Brighton Simbarashe chiguma, Lazarus Sauti, James Chitamba, Joshua Muitire, Emely Mushonga, Edwin Msipa, Ngonidzashe Paradza, Farai Manguvo, Simbarashe Chirikure, Oscar Gwiriri, Tonderai Matema, Tamutswa Muzana Kundidzora, Shingirai Manyegavana, Luckmore Magaya, Natasha Tinotenda Gwiriri, Albert Nicholas Mawarire, Irvine Mugwagwa, Admire Daitai and Tinashe Muchuri, prove that they are all capable poets.
Capable of creating entrancing and emotional moments, weaving a story and turning what could easily be a plain description into a mind orgasm.
A poem called Ndizoredzewo is on a an emotional patient meditation on parenthood.:
Matirasa ndiwe rugotwe rwangu kani iwe
Zinyarimwe
Ziso rangu rinongomira pauri iwe
Pakufara ndinodana rako zita ndichipika
Chiri chokudya unotozoisa mune wako muromo ndaravira
The last verse however takes an interesting turn when the writer begins to talk about substance abuse by the child who is so dearly loved:
Mapapu aunosvibisa nekubhema handina sepa yekuageza
Urwere hwaunorongera mune rako ropa nechiuno
Naidzo njere dzaunodambura nezvinodhaka zvemarudzi
Ndipewo zororo kani Matirasa
The sad story of many parents in Zimbabwe right now, as all sorts of drugs have made their way into a lot of Zimbabwean neighbourhoods.
Zvandaiti ndagarika is a poem that gives one the feeling that one is reading someone’s mind as events unroll.
The poet gives a striking frank description of the difficulties of pregnancy loss and infertility.
The whole book is full of passionate intensity and every single poem is worthy of attention which makes the collection a must have for anyone with a serious book collection.
