The following article appeared in South Bend Tribune, Tuesday June 20, 2006

A garden of verse in different nations

By Laureen Fagan, Tribune Staff Writer

Tomatoes are not what one expects in a vineyard, of course.  That's the point of Mishawaka resident Titus Kuweruza's new poetry, a collection called "Tomatoes In The Vineyard."

At home in Mckinley Woods, the 31-year-old native of Malawi, a certified nursing aide for Regency Place of South Bend, took a few minutes to talk about his writing.

"My first major publication was a short story when I was 17, in Malawi," he explained.

It was called "Magic For Power," a story based on native oral traditions about human sacrifice and a character who needed to be rescued through the use of magic arts.

Kuweruza, who now attends First Presbyterian Church in South Bend, said his writing still reflects spiritual themes.  "A little bit," he said.  "I'm trying to get closer to God's understanding."

The title of the book reflects the tension between appearance and reality, he said.  "What appears to be the situation is not reality," he explained.  One journey may be an entirely different one.  "But if you are resourceful enough, you may find the tomatoes may be used to spice your food," Kuweruza said.

His poetry is different because of the form of presentation, he believed.  With keyboards set up in the room - his wife, Amanda, plays them, and he's learning - his love of music is evident.  "I'm a fan of music," he said.  "So I feel poetry and music convey the same way."

His poetry is different, Kuweruza said, in that he relies on a musical sense.  "The style of writing is different," he said.  "I use a lyric form for rhythm even though it is free verse."  It is evident in selections such as "Rebirth" and "Beauty Within," but Kuweruza said he has no favorite of his own.

"Every one of them is my favorite," he said.  "The pieces connect with each other and (it) forms like a picture of art."  He likes forceful images and metaphors, he explained.

"It's a fresh voice."

The PublishAmerica book, selling for $12.95, is available through Barnes & Noble at the Web site www.bn.com.

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Big up Titus! Represent.