Generation Hope – A Poetry Anthology By Young Malawian Writers

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across the Lilongwe Cultural Festival which provided an opportunity for artists, playwrights and poets to showcase their work to the public. It was at the festival that I came across a publication call ‘Generation Hope’. This publication serves as a platform to allow young Malawians voice their views on the current challenges and opportunities facing them.

There is one poem in particular that I wanted to share with the readers of our blog as it reasonates quite strongly with our project, ‘Access to Criminal Justice’. The poem is called ‘Decades to Come’ and was written by Boniface Wizilamu. Like the poet we believe that there is hope for Malawi that solutions can be found, obtacles overcome. What is required is patience, time and perseverence.

 DECADES TO COME

by Boniface Wizilamu

Dry your tears, Mother Malawi

weep not again

for your glory is about to retain

face your eyes to the east

and expect not a beast

but a peep of the sun

struggling to rise above the mountain

whose shadow has masked your beauty

to deny you a chance to sparkle

like a pistol, the brightest star

in the sky that twinkles

now a dwelling den, for crooks and con artists

worry not then, watch until it fully shines

and uncover the beauty that is truly fine

Question not this prophecy

a true vision it is, not a fallacy

that warm heart shall give birth to peace

that treasure hidden within,

shall unlock the ingress of prosperity.

Together we shall turn a new leaf

of oneness and friendliness

and the willingness to work as a team

even in times when the chances

of survival seem slim

that’s your destiny, Mother Malawi

mark my words, it’s just in a few

decades to come.

By Eithne Lynch