A love letter to DAR

I arrived at your shore  
Naked at my mothers side 
You welcomed me  
Ilala, I rested in your arms  
Learned the movement of your tongue  
You spoke to me, 
Pole pole,  
In soft whispers of humid air 
I left but you still remained 
Nestled in my palms 
my nyumbani  

I watched you change  
From babas pictures of a quiet centre  
To coffee and cardamon  
drifting across crowded streets  
Streets that sound like lion spirits  
dancing with silver
Buku, shillingi! 
Your market enthrals  
Weaving new language
Awakening youthfulness 

Having called you first love 
From a distance,  
I did not know you  
and so I returned  
fallen and concrete  
you kneaded me 
Like maandazi  
Made me warm again 
Full again 

With sounds of singeli  
Drumming in from Buguruni 
You taught me to never stop moving
The movement brings life  
And life erupts  
Then lays down to rest 
By the headstones  
In Kinondoni 
Body and bone and earth 
Still, moving together 

Every time I return 
I see you with new eyes 
Tasting tamarind  
In your sweet sunset embraces 
I am reminded that 
I’ve known no warmer love  
I return to you, always  
Dar es salaam 
My heaven  
My haven of peace  

Valerie Amani Asiimwe