I will teach them to give thanks for the things that still remain constant; like gravity, at least, when I learned how to or the fact that even with humanity at a standstill, walk the sun, without fail, still rises from the east. Mumbi Macharia Maumbile hayabadiliki. Dunia bado ni duara. When I learned how to walk, (Nature does not change its form; the world my mother says she wondered is still a sphere). if I would be able to walk through this world I will teach my children with my head held high, that love is a verb, walking with her pride, as much as it is a noun. and stepping with the grace of her mother’s I will teach my children that God is good, stride. all the time, When I learned how to walk, even if all the time, my mother hoped that I would learn all isn’t good, to always go the extra mile with her. at least all the time, When I learned how to walk, God is always on time. I wonder if my mother hoped that I would never leave her. I hope my children will understand me. I hope they will understand what I mean, When I spoke my first words, when I tell them that they should be dawn my mother says she hoped that I would al- in a world full of midnights, ways speak love into existence, or that they should be the sun in a world even with the words that I scribbled in my full of dim lights. books. I will teach my children When I spoke my first words, to always raise their hands and answer I wonder if my mother hoped I would never questions, stop telling her I love her. even when they are afraid of not being right. Mumbi Macharia is a performing spoken word poet, published When I bring my own children into this I will teach my children author, and content creator. Having begun her journey as a world, to speak with conviction, into this same, as if they are God in the Genesis, poet in 2015, she is regarded as a luminary in the spoken ever-changing, commanding light out of darkness. word scene in East Africa, having performed on major poetry uncertain world, stages in Nairobi, Kampala, and Dar es Salaam. In 2020, Mumbi self published her debut poetry book titled “ MUMBIWhen I Learned How to Walk & Other Poems”, and is working on more literary projects. MACHARIA 50nd3k4 320 50nd3k4 321 50nd3k4 320 50nd3k4 321