Poetry Platform
June 2020
Naphtalie by Mugabi Byenkya
Mesmerized / by those pools you call eyes / as I fall in, don’t want to dip I want to dive / wait a second hold up take a glance to the side / girl you got such a beautiful smile / smiling with your eyes making Tyra look intelligent. Gracing I with your presence ever so benevolent / opposite sex attraction becomes irrelevant/ because you’re a full moon but see yourself as a crescent
I wrote that verse for a friend
I wrote it as an attempt to release
a way to squeeze
rend
and then mend
these emotions inside of me
personal psychiatry
I used to say
years before
I went crazy
needed psychology to bring me back from the edge
years before
these suicidal tendencies
caught me slipping
gripping
onto a precarious ledge
years before
I met you
and was reminded of the blues
that
I felt
that
you felt
that
we felt
like wool fibers
they felt
attempting to melt
into those creamy hues that you call
eyes
© 2017. Mugabi Byenkya. All rights reserved. Reproduction or transmission of this work in any part or form is strictly prohibited without the author’s prior written consent.
About the author
Mugabi Byenkya is an award-winning writer, poet and occasional rapper. Mugabi’s writing is used to teach international high school English reading comprehension. His debut experimental epistolary speculative novel, ‘Dear Philomena,’ was published in 2017 and he recently concluded a 42 city, 4 country North America/ East Africa tour in support of this.
In 2018, Mugabi was named one of 56 writers who has contributed to his native Uganda’s literary heritage in the 56 years since independence by Writivism. Dear Philomena, was named a Ugandan bestseller in the same year. Mugabi wants to be Jaden Smith when he grows up.
A list of writers previously published by AGN is maintained here; writers list.
Submission guidelines for those thinking of putting their work forward to be considered for publication are here; submission guidelines.
African Global Networks (AGN) – June 2020