Gaju Yvonne is an Enrichment year (first year) student at Agahozo-Shalom.  She wrote and performed this poem during Village Time, our weekly Friday night talent show. Gaju calls herself an “accidental poet,” as this was her first time to ever attempt writing poetry. 

Ariko manayanjye!?

Why is everything so complicated?

Why do we have suffer?

I lived all alone 

In a dark world full of sorrow 

I had no vision of the future

I had no hope at all

I had no family 

I was all alone,and those who were called my family

They mistreated me 

They used to call me good for nothing

And I always knew that I was good for nothing

Because I didn’t know what was behind the darkest world I was living in

I was all blind

Many times I sat down all alone wishing that I could find someone to share with my sorrow

Someone to cry on his shoulder

Some who could understand me

I always wished that someone can even read my thoughts

And know what I was thinking 

And I couldn’t find anyone because I was living in a cruel world

My step mother whom I thought could be a mother used to beat me all the time

I wished I could have died because I could not see the reason of staying alive 

I had no one to wipe my tears

And no one to hold me tight when I was feeling lonely

I had nobody to stay by my side when I was feeling lonely

The sun couldn’t shine, my world was so dark

Full of tears and thoughts

My heart was full of sorrow

I didn’t know how beautiful the blue sky was

I couldn’t find out how the stars could shine bright

I couldn’t know how beautiful I am

Because I had no one to tell me so

Because I was all alone in that cruel world

_________

But the time came

When I was relieved from that dark world

My tears were all wiped away

I smiled for the first time in my life

For my first time I saw the sun shinning

For the very first time I saw how beautiful was the sky

I even saw the stars dancing in the sky

I thought that I was dreaming

But for now all I know is it’s not a dream, but a reality

I couldn’t know that I could find a lovely and caring family

I’ve found a beautiful mama who encourages me all the time

Who always tell me that I am capable of everything

I also have adorable sisters and caring brothers to take my hand and guide my steps

From that time till now 

I started hoping for the bright future

Now I have good friends, I can dance, play with my colleagues

Because I am no longer in that cruel world

Now I have a dream

I have a vision for my tomorrow  

I have hope because now I know that I have the potential

From the time I reached in Agahozo-Shalom where I have all the opportunities

I can speak out what is in my mind 

I know I have to use all the opportunities I have to realize my dream

And become a strong woman

Now I am a strong lady and I hope to become the strongest woman! 

Thank you Agahozo-Shalom for being there when I needed you most.

Written by Gaju Yvonne