EVEN FLOWERS KNOW THAT WATER IS USELESS WITHOUT ROOTS: Poetry, Essays, and Stories

By Gloria D. Gonsalves

I sat on a mat beneath an imagined mango tree. There, the happiness and sorrows of my heart found a place as stories and poetry on paper. I joined the birds flying above the tree, singing Kiswahili songs that made me ululate. The tree danced from melodies of the heart, gifting ample juicy fruits to sate my longings.

Meanwhile, children skipped their favourite kamba game, and others raced on a wooden tricycle to catch a grasshopper. Our neighbour wafted soil scent as she wetted the mud floor before sweeping it. My body adorned in a pair of kanga, the breeze knew well of the nostalgia I carry.

It was not a dream. I was homesick, and only writing would remedy my longings.
Moving away from the land you were born in alters you into a migrant and a wanderer, seeking what is not fully known until experienced and missed.

This collection brings together various memories, experiences, and observations of my homeland, Tanzania. The subjects range from natural resources, love, food, and culture to self-pride. You will learn about the wealth and diversity of Tanzania’s people, culture, and natural resources. This book is an ode to Tanzania and a subtle memoir by its descendant.

*****

Gloria writes about Africa in all its brilliance and beauty with a pure vision and a complete lack of cliche. Her formidable control of language brings memories rushing out of the body - with faint smells and tiny sounds - with all the subtleness of real life. Derek Workman, Editor In Chief, The Kalahari Review

This book of poems will surely inspire the reader to think about who they are and where they come from, and be proud of their heritage. Even to those for whom poetry is not something they usually indulge in, these writings are meaningful and worth a look. Lee Ann, FirstEditing.com

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823083379

Gloria D. Gonsalves

Gloria D. Gonsalves, also fondly known as Auntie Glo, is an award-winning author and multi-published poet. She likes to take long walks in nature and admire flowers. Her three-year-old son inspired her to learn to draw flowers using crayons. Gloria hopes you will learn to enjoy reading, and perhaps you too can teach someone else about flowers. You can visit her at www.gloria-gonsalves.com.

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© 2023 Gloria D. Gonsalves. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   06/21/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-8336-2 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-8337-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

PART I

Let Me Drink Home Verses

Before I Pass Out From Neglect

101 ON AFRICA

A HAUGHTY WOMAN

A POEM BEGINNING WITH A LINE BY NGUGI WA THIONG’O

A TALE OF LOVE

A WORD OF VALOUR

AFRICAN BLESSING

AFRICAN PRINCESS

AFRICAN VIOLET

AFTERNOON DREAMS

ASHA, THE BLIND MASSEUR

BABA KRISMASI

BAHATI THE COW

BOARDING SCHOOL

CHARCOAL IRON

CHICKEN SOUP PRAYER

CORN RHYME

DAUGHTER OF CONFIDENCE

DID YOU HEAR HIM?

DIRECTIONS TO HOME

DIRISHANI (BY THE WINDOW)

DISCO INFERNO

ENGAGEMENT RING

EPIC OF BOB JUNIOR

FLOOR ARRANGEMENT FOR MEALS

GONE TO THE BEACH, BACK WITH REGRET

GHAZAL OF PRYING

GRANDMA’S DENTAL DRILL

HAIKUS FROM KILIMANJARO

HAIRY PREDICAMENT

HERE AWAY FROM THERE

HOME IN YELLOW

HOMECOMING IN RED

HOMEMADE FLAG

HOMESICK

HOME SPIRIT

HOUSEHOLD CHORES HAIKUS

HOW TO EAT A MANGO

I AM A CHILD OF TANZANIA

I DREAM

I LOVE AFRICA (A MEMORIAL)

IF I HAD YOUR FACE

IN HONOUR OF JULIUS K. NYERERE

IN THE EYES OF A CHILD

IT’S A WONDERFUL TIME FOR AFRICA

JE, WEWE NI NANI? (WHO ARE YOU?)

KITCHEN DWELLERS

KILI LEGEND

KITUMBUA CRAVER

LITANY OF HERITAGE

LOVE LETTER TO UGALI

MADAME OKRA SPOKE

MAMA NI HIFADHI YA MWANGAZA (MOTHER IS A RESERVOIR OF LIGHT)

MAMA’S HUSBAND

MAKONDE BEAUTY

MALARIAL MEMORIES

MARIMBA FROM HEAVENS

MERMAID IN THE SKY

MKEKA WANGU (MY MODEST MAT)

MOLAR PLEASURE

MOTHER FLAG OF TANZANIA

MOTHER’S SPINE

MUSES ON AFRICAN FATHERHOOD

MYSTERIES OF A MAIDEN IN KANGA

NAMING SKIT

NUNDA

ODE TO TANZANIA

ODE TO CHAI

ODE TO GUAVA

ON THE SISAL MAT

OUR TANZANITE

PANGANI RITUAL

PRAISE BE TO THE FISH HEAD

PRICKLY POPPY

PRIDE WORN BY A TEMPLE

REMEMBER THOSE DAYS

RETURN TO SENDER

RUBAIYAT FROM AFRICA

SAHARAN SUMMON

SAVING LOVE

SIMBA, THE FIERCE DOG

SPEECH LESSON

STRIPPING

TANZANIAN PRIDE

TANZANIAN FLAG

TEA OR COFFEE?

THAT PLACE WHERE RARITY IS

THE ANGELS WE SEE

THE ART OF PEELING AN ORANGE

THE COCONUT PALM OF LONGINGS

THE OLD DIALLING SERVICE

THE WHITE GOLD OF TANZANIA

THE WOMAN WAS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM

THIS WOMAN, OH!

THIS MOUNTAIN

TUZIBEBE KANGA ZETU (LET US CARRY OUR KANGAS)

UGALI EATERS

UNITED PEOPLE OF AFRICA

UNMAPPED

WE WERE MADE OF SPICES

WHAT LOSS DO THEY SEEK TO REDEEM THERE?

WHEN EVENING COMES (AN ELEGY)

WHERE LIFE RESTS AND RISES

WHO AM I?

YOUR SKIN IS PEACE

PART II

Let Me Eat Home Stories

Before I Pass Out From Ignorance

AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE WIDELY KISWAHILI-SPEAKING EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

EULOGY FOR GABBY MGAYA

THE KANGA AS A WOMAN’S WEAPON

MAINTAINING THE KANGA STORYLINES AS ELOQUENT APHORISMS

THE VISIBLE AND HIDDEN CHARMS OF BUIBUI

THE HAPPY NAPPY HEAD

FESTIVE NOSTALGIA FOR A TANZANIAN CHRISTMAS

HAVE YOU CREATED LOVE IN THE KITCHEN YET?

A LESSON FROM COCONUT GRATER

KAMBA WA NAZI (PRAWNS IN COCONUT CURRY)

A LESSON FROM UGALI

MANGO NOIR

WHEN THE SUN IS EDIBLE

THE REAL HEROES OF MOUNT KILIMANJARO

IN YOUR LIFE TRAVEL, WHO DISCOVERED YOU?

NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

EXPLORE POETRY AND PROSE FROM OTHER COLLECTIONS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PART I

Let Me Drink Home Verses

Before I Pass Out From Neglect

101 ON AFRICA

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You have not explored enough

until your feet stride on her hidden jewels.

You have not awed enough

until your eyes behold the virgin beauty in her lands.

You have not loved enough

until your heart is loved by her people’s warmth.

You have not forgiven enough

until your acts are tested by her clemency.

You have not persevered enough

until your will has been tried by her burdens.

You have not been civil enough

until your soul accepts her as a birthplace of humankind.

Until then, you will have missed Africa.

A HAUGHTY WOMAN

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My wide hips dance

to melodious tones

of my tight thighs.

I am a soprano

of unique creation.

My lips sing

a song of praise

about a mouth

whose thick flesh

I naturally possess.

My chest comforts

young and old

as they weep hard

on the soft wellness

of my big twos.

I possess not

the imposed numbers,

86-61-86,

but look a lot sexier

in my natural curves.

Oh!

Look at you

feeling all upset

about my pride.

Try to be yourself.

A POEM BEGINNING WITH A

LINE BY NGUGI WA THIONG’O

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Weep not, child,

for after the misery

is a bigger version

of your smallness.

Weep not, child,

because of them.

Heed the truth

of your spirit.

Weep not, child.

To live fully

is dwelling beyond

the suffering.

Weep not, child,

unless it is joy

for what is there

and what there is.

A TALE OF LOVE

44559.jpg

Anuket, goddess of the Nile River and also

a goddess of lust, had a thought after seeing her

face image.

Her virgin reflection travelled down the river

to a warrior boy who dropped his shield to look

at her moon face.

Engai, the mother and father of rain, blushed his

face. The warrior boy travelled north to speak

to her Nubian face.

A WORD OF VALOUR

44559.jpg

What frightens you, daughter from Africa?

I have walked and swelled upon length

of the longest river in your vast world.

I have loved with passion of rich harvest

and withered in the cold death of drought.

Yet, I still dwell in noble history of queens.

Raise yourself in majestic steps of courage;

dare taming the tales of a tempestuous lover

pulsating in the waters of your affluent veins.

There is nothing bolder than a will to live.

Neither failures nor death can erase you

as you live in brave acts of ink on papyrus.

I am no more with earthly silver and gold;

nonetheless returned to remind of swells

if you hold yourself high above the pyramids.

Walk surely above the giraffes and eagles.

Tell humiliators you reject seeing nothing lower

that robs your truth as an African descendant.

AFRICAN BLESSING

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May the mountains, valleys, and

great waters sail you to greatness.

May the elephants, hippos, and

lions guide you to bold adventures.

May the exotic foods, drinks, and

fruits enrich you with organic life.

May the drums, marimbas, and

flutes unleash your hidden songs.

May the kings, queens, and

ancestors host you with dignity.

May you find hope, love, and

grace in the kingdoms of Africa.

AFRICAN PRINCESS

44559.jpg

Her kinky and curly hair

shined from coconut oil.

Painted with black eyeliner,

her eyes seemed bigger,

radiating hallucinating effects,

like a full, bright moon.

Her lips were a soft pink,

like that of African violets

found on highlands

of the great Tanzania.

Black skin veiling her curves

outshined darkness,

glowing from avocado oil.

She smelled not of perfume,

but of the delicious aroma

from local delicacies

she made for her beloved

upon his return from fishing,

a duty he performed with pleasure

to feed her and their six children,

for she was his African Princess.

AFRICAN VIOLET

44559.jpg

I lean and watch them speak

in tongues, royal purple tongues,

twirling in full, heart-shaped mouths:

mouths with curved-in lips,

some greener than others, serving

smooth words on velvet goblets:

goblets with five handles to hold

and drink life rife with status, like

queens and kings of ancient East Africa.

East Africa, was it home or roam?

Some cousins made it abroad, living

grandly on windowsills, not forests.

Forests in moist gowns and emerald crowns,

roots speaking in monarch’s tongues, daring

me to bow to the royal purple beneath.

Beneath, where life is rife with status,

my heart adores neither blue nor violet –

to praise is to daze.

AFTERNOON DREAMS

44559.jpg

Afternoon dreams

lazing on a mat

weaving baskets

to donkey tails

wrapped in kanga

we glitter sweat