Skip to content
Raya Wambui

Raya Wambui

Creativity, recording current history

  • Method To the Madness Poetry
  • Are You Serious? Poetry
  • Uncensored. Poetry
  • Wewe Ni? Watch and Read Kenyan Mind
  • Whats happening with Meena? Journaling
  • On The Objectification Of Men Journaling
  • Mummy Tummy Kenyan Mind
  • The Hypocrites Kenyan Mind

Guys, I Can’t Afford To Be A Poet.

Posted on May 7, 2013 By rayawambui 8 Comments on Guys, I Can’t Afford To Be A Poet.

As a child, at an age six I stopped finding the phrase;

“Your a poet and you didn’t even know it”

Funny.

Because, I did know.

Until Twenty Three, I thought it would only be,

Only in writing.

 

Then, I did my rounds, sometimes ten in a month.

Dues must be paid, when you work with your mouth.

My day job also requires investment.

Running a business in its teenage years,

Doesn’t pair well with expensive hobbies,

Or weekends of beers.

 

Unfortunately the “This is a new event”

Line, cares little for whether I arrive home fine.

In this world, a girl my age, in her right mind,

Doesn’t travel alone past a certain time.

But the passion that burns my insides,

Won’t allow me to say “No.” Even when

You wouldn’t give me a comp or two,

To ensure I’m accompanied on my home route..

Makes me wonder; If I don’t make it home.

Would you keep a straight face, at my funeral?

Saying:

“She, was one of Ours.

She, wrote and performed for hours.

She, may still be here, if she hadn’t picked a poem with so many bars…”

Or should I just wise up now and say “No.” From far.

Because

Guys, I can’t afford to be a poet.

 

There is something,

Something,

Revealing,

About standing and speaking.

It’s rather like getting undressed.

So you, seduce me, with acclamation, singing…

“Would you let me, see beneath your beautiful?

Would you let me, see beneath your perfect?”

Then, with your actions, and no other words,

Say; “It wasn’t worth it.”

“Not even what it cost you to get here.”

Guys, its breaking my heart,

And I know I have fans, but

Guys, I can’t afford to be a poet..

 

I give with my right hand,

I give with my left.

So I don’t have an eating hand left.

In the interests of self preservation, I write,

To get what’s on my mind, off my chest.

In the interest of self preservation, I find,

That I can not afford to invest.

In what gives nothing back for my time,

When I’ve given my best.

So guys, before my inspiration is empty,

Of the little left of my strength,

And I stand before you, as a ghost of myself.

Let me stop, to say. If it goes this way,

I…

I can’t afford, to be a poet.

Related

Kenyan Mind, Uncategorized Tags:Starving Artist

Post navigation

Previous Post: The Dust She Leaves
Next Post: Malala 17.10.12

Related Posts

  • Wetu Kenyan Mind
  • The Dust She Leaves Kenyan Mind
  • In Search Of Womanhood (I) Kenyan Mind
  • The Bull In The China Shop Kenyan Mind
  • Wewe Ni? Watch and Read Kenyan Mind
  • In Search Of Womanhood (II) Kenyan Mind

Comments (8) on “Guys, I Can’t Afford To Be A Poet.”

  1. PenAftermath says:
    May 14, 2013 at 6:35 am

    Wonderful. I bow …. you are a poet

    Reply
  2. PenAftermath says:
    May 14, 2013 at 6:35 am

    Wonderful. I bow …. you are a poet

    Reply
  3. storitellah says:
    May 14, 2013 at 7:24 am

    You are a poet…i loved this part ‘it’s rather like getting undressed’ but just couldn’t understand the notion behind it. Tell me more Raya.

    Reply
    1. rayawambui says:
      May 14, 2013 at 7:43 am

      People who don’t know each other very well, and are not completely honest are more likely to get on. Once absolute honesty comes into the equation is when you can know if they would really be agreeable to each other.

      With honest poetry, you are exposing your true self, to a room full of people who you usually have never met before. In the hope that they will see similarities in what you say, with their true selves. That doesn’t always happen, but when it does, its magical.

      In order to perform a spoken word piece that is about yourself in a way that is involving, you have to be honest about your opinions/circumstance/personality in such a way, that when paralleled with physical exposure, it is equivalent to nudity.

      Reply
  4. storitellah says:
    May 14, 2013 at 7:24 am

    You are a poet…i loved this part ‘it’s rather like getting undressed’ but just couldn’t understand the notion behind it. Tell me more Raya.

    Reply
    1. rayawambui says:
      May 14, 2013 at 7:43 am

      People who don’t know each other very well, and are not completely honest are more likely to get on. Once absolute honesty comes into the equation is when you can know if they would really be agreeable to each other.

      With honest poetry, you are exposing your true self, to a room full of people who you usually have never met before. In the hope that they will see similarities in what you say, with their true selves. That doesn’t always happen, but when it does, its magical.

      In order to perform a spoken word piece that is about yourself in a way that is involving, you have to be honest about your opinions/circumstance/personality in such a way, that when paralleled with physical exposure, it is equivalent to nudity.

      Reply
  5. Laura Ekumbo says:
    June 23, 2015 at 1:26 pm

    Reblogged this on Relevant Ranting and commented:
    There are things that I struggle to articulate. But there are so many wonderful human beings who don’t. I’m relatively knew to performance poetry and spoken word, but there are things that keep being brought to my attention the more I indulge in sharing my passion. These are some of the thoughts that I’ve been battling with, and I am grateful for wonderful human beings like Raya Wambui, for putting into words what I haven’t found the clarity or maturity of experience to do myself.

    Reply
  6. Laura Ekumbo says:
    June 23, 2015 at 1:26 pm

    Reblogged this on Relevant Ranting and commented:
    There are things that I struggle to articulate. But there are so many wonderful human beings who don’t. I’m relatively knew to performance poetry and spoken word, but there are things that keep being brought to my attention the more I indulge in sharing my passion. These are some of the thoughts that I’ve been battling with, and I am grateful for wonderful human beings like Raya Wambui, for putting into words what I haven’t found the clarity or maturity of experience to do myself.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Archives

  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • January 2020
  • September 2019
  • June 2019
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • July 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • February 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012

Categories

  • Journaling
  • Kenyan Mind
  • Malindi Mentions
  • Poetry
  • Short Story
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Woman in the Two Thousands

Recent Posts

  • Then let the star be.
  • Dates
  • Still Going
  • How to heal.
  • Lessons From My Daughter

Recent Comments

  1. kantai on How to heal.
  2. thephenomwillrise on Lessons From My Daughter
  3. rayawambui on Lessons From My Daughter
  4. Yakumiko on Lessons From My Daughter
  5. Valerie Nyanaro on Lessons From My Daughter
  • I Have To. Kenyan Mind
  • Me, Beautiful? Poetry
  • Wetu Kenyan Mind
  • The Patience For Inspiration/ Will You Judge? Journaling
  • It Continues Kenyan Mind
  • The Dust She Leaves Kenyan Mind
  • Proud Roots Kenyan Mind
  • Dear Mama Poetry

Copyright © 2023 Raya Wambui.

Powered by PressBook News Dark theme