Chai
08-Mar-2007
It grew in the Kericho sun
watered by the rains that swept up from Lake Victoria
every afternoon at 4
like a heavy felt curtain.
Top two leaves and a bud
picked in the pouring rain.
Flapping black raincoats and hats,
bright faces and bright singing.
The emerald of the freshly washed leaves
almost hurts the eye.
Miles of smooth green hills
stretching to the horizon of my mind.
Dried on acres of wire racks,
the smell of them a liquor in the nostrils,
drowning in the thick black scent of it,
bathing in the aroma,
the smell of home and happiness
and warm rain running down my back
and black earth and blue skies.
Memories, packaged in a green box
and sent to me by kind strangers.
You've got some marvelous images here- "bright faces and bright singing", "acres of wire racks", "drowning in the tick black scent", and my personal favorite, "warm rain running down my back." I really like that last one. I always enjoy reading your posts for their own sake, but these last two make me want to see Kericho for myself. Thanks for posting.
Maria
Safi, ndugu.
great to read your poetry.
quick question that has evaded your response.
any chance of chai room chat in IRC or PHP in RCB?
This is excellent poetry. Goes right down the tripes, and sends you home too in one instant. The images therein are simply fabulous, and so is the story narrated by the piece.
That green bed of leaves. The first time I read about tea estates was in the clas three English book "New Friends". think there's this girl whose fahter works on the tea estate.
Lemmi quit ranting, lest I decipher what's hidden in your poetry. The beauty of a poem is discovering for oneself what the author meant to convey.
Hongera kaka na endela na kazi njema.
Please write some more.
This is worded beautifully.
It instantly transports one to those hills.
Thanks for sharing.
If you thought coffee was the best drink, think again, I also have 2 green boxes left at home, one can never get enough of it, and dont forget the milk, for what good is kenyan chai without milk ...