Cool morning air and powder blue
sky
Village awakens, early traders
pass by
Aromas of wood-smoke and fresh
coffee ground
Doors slowly creak open – the first
morning sounds
My home is just simple: tin roof,
walls of mud
My village: singing and dancing
and laughter and love.
Vibrant with colours, like
jewels, so bold
Dresses, sunflowers, umbrellas, tainted
sunlit dust-gold
Always handshakes and greetings and
curious glances
Smiles and huge hugs from little
kids taking their chances
Ndagukumbuye, warabuze, my sister
you were lost
Precious words from dear friends here
who love you the most.
Bustling market days, fruit piled
high
Local and seasonal, sweet, juicy
and ripe.
Sellers recline sleepily, lazing
at stalls
Chatting, slow trading, till
temperatures fall
Dazzling bright sunlight scorches
the ground
And dust fills the air as the
seasons roll round
Then battleship thunderclouds steam
in again
Bringing thirst quenching skin
drenching cool summer rain
The joy when the water’s back,
gurgling and gushing
Then hand-washing, shoe scrubbing,
sloshing and splashing!
Cold soapy bucket baths, soaking wet
hair
That dries in the hazy warm
afternoon air.
Colours are dimmed in the fading
pink light
Children run home as day turns to
night
The apricot sun sinks behind
distant grey hills
And fires are lit and the air
becomes still
Then darkness and magic. Bright
fireflies
Softly rustling banana leaves.
Big starry skies.
My home lit by candlelight. Soft yellow
glow.
Glimmering, golden light. Sleepy.
Mellow.
My village family and friends, so
very dear
Know that once I am gone, my
heart remains here.
