Join me tomorrow for "Lottie Da, Poet I Am" by Lottie Porch at Paa ya Paa, 1st August

This is to invite my fans and poetry lovers and especially members of TWO HOURS BEFORE to a "Spoken Word Poetry Event" tomorrow at Paa Ya Paa Art Gallery, Nairobi starting 2:30pm to 6pm. Paa ya Paa on Ridgeways Road, Off Kiambu road next to Ridgeways Boys Academy.


Two Hours Before shall be performing the poems...... 'When I Am Gone', 'Return Of The Foetus' and my other captivating poem 'A Woman's Meat' Other poems include the sensational 'Letter To My Father', The Midnight Visitor', 'Appear Tonight', 'The Wrong Turn' and the horror poem....'The House Of Pain'

Guest artist-poet, is America's renounced poet and educator Lottie E. Porch who is currently an adjunct professor at New York University. For over thirty years Ms. Porch has shared her talents in the realms of performing arts, written word, and cultural education. Whether she is acting on stage, publishing written works, teaching students in an African village, or singing a late night set at a jazz club – Lottie Porch brings her creativity to all aspects of her life and work.

The event will enable Kenyan poetry lovers to sample some Spoken Word from this amazingly multi-talented lady. It will also be an opportunity for Lottie to hear what Kenya has to offer in Poetry and Spoken Word.

Also present at the event is Kenya's sensational Poet, Njeri Wangari, who is the Author of the book 'Mines & Minds Fields'. Njeri, my fellow blogger and poet is an IT expert and one of the newest 'spoken word' artist in the country. She runs the Art blog called Kenyan Poet

Entertainment shall be lead by Grand Master Masese. Other performing poets includes Rhoda Jura, Mwangi S. Muthiora, Wario Helena, Bernard Muhia, Valentine Kamau and Denis Ikwa.

ENTRY IS FREE..... INVITE YOUR FRIENDS

You can follow this link to see the map/ direction to Paa Ya Paa Art G Off Kiambu road Ridgeways.

Read about the Author on the February issue of Parents Magazine 2010 and read his untold story. Also Join Two Hours Before on facebook and twitter. NOTE: Two Hours Before is the fastest growing poetry blog in the country with over 27,000 visits and several reputable Reviews across the world.

MWANGI S. MUTHIORA
EXCECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Two Hours Before
fafdays@gmail.com
+254 725 385 654

DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT/ OCCASSION YOU WOULD LIKE THIS AUTHOR TO GRACE? WRITE BACK TO US ON THE CONTACTS ABOVE AND WE ARE JUST A CLICK AWAY FROM ENTERTAINING YOUR GUESTS. TWO HOURS BEFORE........WE ARE ALWAYS AHEAD. DREAM IT AND WE SHALL MAKE IT BECOME
For more details contact Paa Ya Paa on 0733270109 or me on 0725385654

Mines & Mind Fields- My Spoken Words, By one of Kenya's top poet Njeri Wangari

Mines & Mind Fields- My Spoken Words,
Author: NJERI WANGARI
On 16th June 2010, I received an extraordinary text message from one of Kenya's newest poetry sensation,Njeri Wangari, She was inviting me to the launch of her first poetry collection book, Mines & Mind Fields- My Spoken Words, published in Canada by Nsemia Inc. International Publishers. Though Kenyanpoet, as she is popularly known, had inspired me to start my own blog, I did not expect the author to mention me in her book especially alongside the reputable Daily Nation- Kenya's Leading Newspaper. I had learned about her blog from the DN several years ago and despite the fact that we have never meet in person, we developed a strong bond online. It was a very big surprise when I learned that my blog Two Hours Before and I were appearing on the jacket of this pulsating publication.

Going back to Mines & Mind Fields, I can only term this book as a gem in my home library. Njeri Wangari has captured both the mind and the soul of any poetry enthusiast who is by any standards looking for realism. Her work consists of a wide range of sounds and styles; free verse, traditional verse, narrative, lyric, dramatic and even experimental. In 'Maisha Ya Hawker- Life Of A Hawker', she has exhibited a very powerful voice in both style and content. In this piece of work, she focuses on the reflective power of word to inform the public and create awareness about significant issues, like police brutality, unemployment, class struggle etc, through frequently meaningful observations and vastly different poetic style.

One of the traits that makes Njeri Wangari(N.W) collection unique, is her range of themes and her use of very simple and coherent style, unlike the typical poetry of 'yester' years. Whileas all art is meant to be appreciated, the real beauty of this poetry collection is its inspiration. In some ways, all of us can relate to the topics and themes expressed in these poems which address important and often timely issues that we might otherwise ignore or suppress. In 'Fire She Said' the author captures news breaking in a very simple way. This poem conveys its own message, and provides a vehicle of expression for diverse attitudes and fresh insights.

This book appeals to a broad spectrum of poetry lovers, and forms a strong and intimate bond with any adventurous reader. From the poem '10th Daughter Of Mumbi' to Digital Hearts....Mines & Mind Fields, is just but a good read.

Mines & Mind Fields- My Spoken Words by Njeri Wangari is available in all leading bookshop in the country.

Njeri is a multi talented Kenyan poet and performer, IT specialist and Art Blogger at Kenyapoet.
The 114 paged book contains over 40 poems that explore themes on Urban Blues, Love, Identity, Traditions, Cultural changes, Exploitation and Politics among others. Njeri’s poems are mainly in English with a few in Kiswahili, Sheng and in Gĩkũyũ, making it an appealing mix to wide audiences.

For more info contact:-

Nsemia Inc. Publishers Ltd.
1011 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 1124
Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6H 5L2; Tel: 1-888-587-1150
Email: info @ nsemia.com.
www.nsemia.com

NOTE:
You can now 'follow' Two Hours Before on facebook by clicking on this link.

Tel: +254 725 385 654
Email:fafdays@gmail.com,
fafdays@yahoo.com
fafdays@hotmail.com
fafdays@ovi.com
Blogsite: http://www.twohoursbefore.blogspot.com
Facebook: Two Hours Before
Simon Mwangi Muthiora

"WHEN I AM GONE" is about an exit that is both celebrated and cursed! It is a poem about a troubled 'man' who is reflecting on his Death.

The following poem came into my mind after loosing a friend whom I never thought would die so soon and become forgotten. It has made me think about my own exit and how the world would behave and react to my own death. Whileas many of my fans have failed to understand why I have written about death severally, it is prudent to state that, it is possibly my greatest inspiration. I have always wanted to live each day preciously such that, in my death, my age shall tell a million stories and I shall exit smiling for the 'great achievement'.
However, this is a work of fiction and events, descriptions and plot are not necessarily true. In the meantime, TWO HOURS BEFORE has the pleasure to thank you for your continued support and various nominations to Poetry Events around the world. Asente sana!



WHEN I AM GONE

My little world shall cry and mourn
It shall probably miss my smile
My alarming sense of humour
It shall not believe that I’m gone
‘How did it happen?’
‘The man is gone?’

When I’m gone
I shall leave a dent
In the hearts of my friends
And adversaries as well
They shall cry and weep
Their tears I shall not wipe
Neither shall I end their fears

When I am gone,
They shall also speak
Others shall whisper
Many shall shout
‘He is gone,
It took him away’
Many shall chirp

When I am gone,
They shall ridicule her
She shall cry and cry
The beasts shall be mused though,
and throw a party!
The breasts they shall want to see
And who knows what else.
They shall try to console her
And make her forget me as fast

When I am gone,
I shall carry my love with me
I shall take my presence
And leave my absence
They shall lay me on cold cement
Stuff wool in my mouth, nose, and ears
And God knows where else

She shall probably burn my clothes
To erase the memories and
Keep my dairies, to remind her of the ‘man’
She shall weep and then stop weep
She shall cry and then stop cry
She shall mourn and then stop mourn
Because the ‘small man’ shall always
Remind her of the 'big man'

When I am gone,
They shall all come to say bye
Their eyes shall see differently
One eye shall only see good
The other shall see bad
One eye shall see happiness
The other shall see sadness
One eye shall see righteousness
The other shall see evil
But the ‘man’
Shall remain......
Gone!

When I am gone
There shall be all sorts of theories
It is the Steam, Tusker, or Richot Brandy!
Some shall whisper!
No! It’s the ‘big disease’,
Kweli…..! He brew all the Vuvuzelas around
And kicked all the Jabulani’s
In the neighborhood
No! he hanged himself!
No, they shot him!
No, it ran over him in town
But the man shall remain gone.

That night, after I am gone
My shell shall lay trapped
In the middle of my shamba
My pillow shall be lonely
My pajamas lifeless
For the man shall be gone

And my epitaph shall read;
'I told you I was Sick,
and gone I am'-The Man
When I am finally gone!


AUTHOR: MWANGI S. MUTHIORA

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN PART OR WHOLE WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT FROM THE AUTHOR IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

MWANGI S. MUTHIORA
Managing Director
TWO HOURS BEFORE
P. O. BOX 147-00216
GITHUNGURI, KENYA

Tel: +254 725 385 654
Email:fafdays@gmail.com,
fafdays@yahoo.com
fafdays@hotmail.com
fafdays@ovi.com
Blogsite: http://www.twohoursbefore.blogspot.com
Facebook: Two Hours Before
Simon Mwangi Muthiora