Two spoons of the sugar of Novelty
Poured into a cup of Familiarity tea
The metal spoons stirs and the crystals dissolve
Palm trees are whispering “paradise”
As malaria plasmoids multiply in the blood stream
Babies on a straw mat with no diapers
Are peeing on themselves
Dusty, hardened feet start the 4 km walk to church
Fresh vegetables are piled on boxes to be sold
Attempts to get money in every way possible..
Jumping out of the bus and peeing outside in a group
While a truck passes by, towing a man on a bike
He holds on with his hand-
What if a bump comes? Or he gets tired?
A baboon is hanging out, stares..
Ridiculously large avocadoes sometimes resemble mangoes.
Nzuri, kurungi, mzungu,
Chakula tamu, ebiokurya birungi
Hospitality with the last coins
The roof is leaking.. Oh well, that’s life
Ugali, matooke, millet… Cold showers
No bras sometimes, and no deodorant most of the time
Saturday club swag, Sunday church swag
The origin, the place you can be in your natural state
Mountains, and God’s creativity to be appreciated
Doing math in your head while watching your bag
Ngapi, zingaha, and wapi, and nkaha
Webale, asante,
Mirinda fruity and Fanta,
Sweet taste of Novelty in a cup of Familiarity
If there was a heaven on Earth, I think it’d be in East Africa
At least a taste of it…
I think I was a part of it, right from the start of it,
These blessed lands.
The white men may have political and financial privilege around the world
But these people were blessed with beauty, simple life, real food.
With each new day, God is guiding every step
Maybe this was a taste, a sneak peek
Novelty and familiarity
Eternity in paradise – how could I have doubted?
We were a part of it, right from the start of it…
