RUKUTURA/RED-POEM BY PATIENCE NITUMWESIGA,

RUTUKURA

kammyasyamyasya
kammurinkanya
ka'goondagoonda
keiruka.

kammurusyamurusya
ka'yetoroora
ka'shwarashwara
keiruka.

keirukanga
ka'muriinkanya
Ka'barabaruka
Keiruka.

Tigwaaba mugyera, bakanaabiiremu
Tigwaaba murabyo, bakaagutiinire
Tigwaaba muriro, bakaagwotsire
Tizaaba na'nsiriira, bakaazakize.

Kaaba rutukura
Kaaza burihamwe
Keijuza empaanga
Keiruka.

Babeiha ngu nikabi
ngu keine n'oburofa
Beiba ebyaako byoona
ngu tikeine buganzi
Baarya ebyokurya byaako
ngu nikagura zingahi
Bakireeba kaahwayo
ngu nikeenda obuyambi

Haza kataraaka
Katyo kaaguma
Kaacura kaaborooga
Kwonka kaahunama
Keiruka.

Ka'shondashonda
Ka'tonzyatonzya
Kashataguruka
Kaayebaziira
Keiruka

Ka'toonyatoonya
Kayetereeza
Kaayecureeza
Kaabaha amagara
Keiruka
Enfeerwa yaako bakigishumbusha
Ngu eshi nikatungwa ebyabusha

Patience Nitumwesiga
Uganda

RED

It twinkles
It glitters
It's frail
It flows.

It flashes
It wanders
It blushes
It flows

It runs
It glistens
It sparkles
It flows

It isn't a river, they would bathe in it
It isn't lightning, they would be scared
It isn't fire, they would sit by it
It isn't sparks, they would light them up

It is red
It is everywhere
It fills up valleys
It flows

They lie that it's ugly
and say it is unclean
They rob all it has
and say it has no honor
They eat its food
and ask for its price
And when it's broken
They say it needs help

O it scatters
Dear me, it endures
It screams and yells
Yet it remains silent
It flows

It picks all it can
It grieves
It explodes
It weaves its pieces together
It flows

It drips
It gathers its grip
It humbles itself
It gives them life
It flows.

when its loss is compensated
they say it thrives on favors.

Patience Nitumwesiga
Uganda