Gunpowder Press welcomes our community’s first Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador, Kundai Chikowero! We are honored to present one of her poems here.
The moon and her waves
We are like the moon and the waves
A pull felt from millions away
Regardless left untouched
Sustaining life around us
Then devastating in waves
tsunamis
And bouts of anger
An existence frighteningly humbling
Rising in pink, orange, and red
Falling into darkness
Spine crushing pressure
The deeper you venture
Hidden gems
Blinding darkness
Survived by adaptations
Only the sun
Will show where to go
Miles apart
The moon and her waves
Once one
Destined to be one
About Kundai Chikowero
Kundai Chikowero is in the University Honors Program, double majoring in Psychology and Philosophy, and holds several awards at California Lutheran University. She is a proactive activist for social justice, community empowerment of underserved populations, and anti-racism. Kundai was awarded the Outstanding Youth Leader – the City of Santa Barbara in 2018. She is a published poet who has won the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay and Poetry competition six times since 7th grade. Her two volumes of published poetry are grounded on equality, peace, and determination, among other themes. Kundai plans to continue her social justice work by studying law in college through poetry and creating platforms for youths to use poetry as an avenue to promote peace and equality in society.
About the Youth Poet Laureate and Poet Ambassador Program
The Youth Poet Laureate and Poet Ambassador serve for a period of one year, during which they participate in ceremonial, educational, and cultural activities encouraging community members to develop their own voices within the county. Youth Poets Laureate and Poet Ambassadors represent and celebrate the richly diverse communities of Santa Barbara County telling their stories and shaping the future narratives of the communities to which they belong. More about the Santa Barbara County Youth Poet Laureate Program here.