Cosmas Mairosi
DEATH OF CHERUBS
mother
the roses are wilting
the violets are shrinking
from sucking poison juice
father,
the leaves are falling off in summer
the shoots are dying
the tribe is uprooted...
mother,
the flowers are shrivelling
our toddlers are withering
from suckling poison juice
how far are we from finding an antidote?
STILL THE SAME PEASANTS
we are still the same peasants
scarred by yesteryear battles
scalded by the colonial sjambok
we are still the same peasants
who sang at the pungwes
and cooked for the comrades
we are still the same peasants
who sheltered the once courteous freedom fighters
we who implored the spirits of the land to look after them
we are still the same peasants
who cheered when uhuru was attained
who clamoured at the downfall of minority rule
we are still the same peasants
milling to the rallies with our hungry bellies
still unable to send our children to school
we are still the same peasants
watching the fat politicians flash by in poshy cars
leaving us their dust and disdain
we are still waiting for our share of the gains of independence.
mother
the roses are wilting
the violets are shrinking
from sucking poison juice
father,
the leaves are falling off in summer
the shoots are dying
the tribe is uprooted...
mother,
the flowers are shrivelling
our toddlers are withering
from suckling poison juice
how far are we from finding an antidote?
STILL THE SAME PEASANTS
we are still the same peasants
scarred by yesteryear battles
scalded by the colonial sjambok
we are still the same peasants
who sang at the pungwes
and cooked for the comrades
we are still the same peasants
who sheltered the once courteous freedom fighters
we who implored the spirits of the land to look after them
we are still the same peasants
who cheered when uhuru was attained
who clamoured at the downfall of minority rule
we are still the same peasants
milling to the rallies with our hungry bellies
still unable to send our children to school
we are still the same peasants
watching the fat politicians flash by in poshy cars
leaving us their dust and disdain
we are still waiting for our share of the gains of independence.
Cosmas Mairosi: a Self-portrait in Words
I was born Cosmas Mairosi on 8th February, 1977 in Mudzi. I grew up in the rural area of
Rusape in Manicaland province. I am a qualified primary school teacher by profession. I hold a
diploma in Education (distinction in English).
I am a performance poet, writer, arts trainer in children's performing arts, Vice Chairperson of
Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe (BWAZ)'s National Executive Committee, patron of
Mudzi BWAZ Chapter, member of Zimbabwe Readers Association (ZIRA), Special Affairs
Coordinator of African Drums Poetry Festival held in December 2007 at Alliance Francaise. I
am also a member of Global Arts Trust.
My father was a wood-carver. I see myself as a word-carver. I have published poems and
short stories in Writers Scroll, Teacher's Voice and New Voices magazines .One of my poems
is featured in an international anthology 'CHE IN VERSE' published by Aflame Books. On the net
my poetry and profile feature on Poetry International Web, krea8ivecircle, ovimagazine.com,
blogigo.co.ok/neilfurby, mevsimsiz.net, aflamebooks.com, chimurenga.co.za, saih.no,
kubatanablogs.net, spock.com, dart.co.za, vasigauke.blogspot.com, ankarasgd.org,
revolvermaedle.wordpress.com, internetbookshop.it, raizescomletras.blogspot.com and
regressar.blogspot.com.
My poems have been broadcast on ZBC radio, television and BBC radio and television.
I perform some of my poems at public gatherings of social, academic and cultural nature. I have
performed at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair since 2003, HIFA-Spoken Word
programme, Chimanimani Arts Festival, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)
National Congress, Culture Week, Book Week, International Day of The African Child, PTUZ
AIDS Fund Launch, book launches, Teachers Day, writers workshops. My international debut
was at the ANTUSA Games (10-14 April 2008) in Francistown, Botswana, which was a festival
of SADC Teachers Unions in which Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana took part.
I have won second prize in a Sunday Mail Magazine Poetry Competition, second prize in a Silver
Jubilee Provincial Poetry Competition, a college merit award in the arts, awarded personality of
the month accolade by Teachers Voice magazine-Zimbabwe, April 2007. I won first prize in the
House of Hunger Poetry Slam at the Book Café. I have twice been International Society of Poets
finalist.
I have taught my pupils performance poetry and they have caught onto it like fire. One of my
pupils went to Japan in 2004 on performance tour.
Through the Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe I have managed to attend workshops on
writing and performance. CHIPAWO trained me on how to teach performing arts to children. I
have facilitated two poetry performance workshops.
I have two poems on a poetry CD 'Budding Echoes' produced by BWAZ.I am currently working
on a poetry CD about the teaching profession.
Outside my writing and teaching life I enjoy action films, soccer and playing chess.
I have really felt the priceless role art plays in entertaining, educating, developing the community
and shaping a social conscience when I participate in awareness campaigns, when I am well
received on stage and especially when I designed the local district logo.
Lastly, on 13 September 2008, I performed in Johannesburg 's Arts Alive event.
I was born Cosmas Mairosi on 8th February, 1977 in Mudzi. I grew up in the rural area of
Rusape in Manicaland province. I am a qualified primary school teacher by profession. I hold a
diploma in Education (distinction in English).
I am a performance poet, writer, arts trainer in children's performing arts, Vice Chairperson of
Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe (BWAZ)'s National Executive Committee, patron of
Mudzi BWAZ Chapter, member of Zimbabwe Readers Association (ZIRA), Special Affairs
Coordinator of African Drums Poetry Festival held in December 2007 at Alliance Francaise. I
am also a member of Global Arts Trust.
My father was a wood-carver. I see myself as a word-carver. I have published poems and
short stories in Writers Scroll, Teacher's Voice and New Voices magazines .One of my poems
is featured in an international anthology 'CHE IN VERSE' published by Aflame Books. On the net
my poetry and profile feature on Poetry International Web, krea8ivecircle, ovimagazine.com,
blogigo.co.ok/neilfurby, mevsimsiz.net, aflamebooks.com, chimurenga.co.za, saih.no,
kubatanablogs.net, spock.com, dart.co.za, vasigauke.blogspot.com, ankarasgd.org,
revolvermaedle.wordpress.com, internetbookshop.it, raizescomletras.blogspot.com and
regressar.blogspot.com.
My poems have been broadcast on ZBC radio, television and BBC radio and television.
I perform some of my poems at public gatherings of social, academic and cultural nature. I have
performed at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair since 2003, HIFA-Spoken Word
programme, Chimanimani Arts Festival, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)
National Congress, Culture Week, Book Week, International Day of The African Child, PTUZ
AIDS Fund Launch, book launches, Teachers Day, writers workshops. My international debut
was at the ANTUSA Games (10-14 April 2008) in Francistown, Botswana, which was a festival
of SADC Teachers Unions in which Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana took part.
I have won second prize in a Sunday Mail Magazine Poetry Competition, second prize in a Silver
Jubilee Provincial Poetry Competition, a college merit award in the arts, awarded personality of
the month accolade by Teachers Voice magazine-Zimbabwe, April 2007. I won first prize in the
House of Hunger Poetry Slam at the Book Café. I have twice been International Society of Poets
finalist.
I have taught my pupils performance poetry and they have caught onto it like fire. One of my
pupils went to Japan in 2004 on performance tour.
Through the Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe I have managed to attend workshops on
writing and performance. CHIPAWO trained me on how to teach performing arts to children. I
have facilitated two poetry performance workshops.
I have two poems on a poetry CD 'Budding Echoes' produced by BWAZ.I am currently working
on a poetry CD about the teaching profession.
Outside my writing and teaching life I enjoy action films, soccer and playing chess.
I have really felt the priceless role art plays in entertaining, educating, developing the community
and shaping a social conscience when I participate in awareness campaigns, when I am well
received on stage and especially when I designed the local district logo.
Lastly, on 13 September 2008, I performed in Johannesburg 's Arts Alive event.
Photo source: International Poetry Web
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