January Poem by Kenneth Maswabi

you are the first born
the eldest in a brood of twelve
the kingmaker and the breadwinner
you offer yourself as a sacrifice
putting your head on the line of fire
you are the epitome of humility and courage
you serve us a dish of hope and faith
sparing a minute to wash our feet
as you prepare us for a journey of 12 moons

you stand proud as a teacher
determined to produce the best
to mould us into better persons
your first lesson started on time
teaching us the art of planning
you delivered a masterpiece
that shall remain pinned to the walls of our hearts
as we trespass through the treacherous path that lie ahead
we shall look back to you
and delight in your wisdom

of course some shall fall
betrayed by their lack of discipline
their absence of mind highlighted
in their wayward ways
breaking every rule known to man
destroying the well of wisdom
with their unwise decisions
burying your teachings
with their stupidity

your second lesson was mind boggling
Finance is always a hard nut to crack
the funds are always insufficient
plenty of excuses to abuse the wallet
poking it nonstop is our way
emptying it on a rush of mania
you persevered and gave us another masterpiece
the trick is found in discipline and accountability
always taking responsibility for our actions

Finally, you delivered your favourite delight
the art of Budgeting can be fun
often mixed with a headache
the numbers are easy to distribute
the difficulty lies in the action
putting funds where the numbers are
is always a moral and ethical dilemma
a biopschosocial confrontation
that we shall wrestle with all year round