Hello Ma
It's been a minute
From the junior days
Living in the community
Family is a team right?
Eleven of us against the world
Crawling from the jungle
Monkey DNA is in our blood
Jumping into building our forte
Nearly lost my soul that day
Long cold nights in the room
No more than you as company
Where my tired soul recovered
Quiet down my child used to say
The world is a big stage
Play your part only no extra
Changed my course for the better
Now a budding artist aspiring for change
Going hard at it so they give me accolades
The tie you down for good
I will shy you were here to see our growth
Karis doing film with lights and grips
Adhis pursuing modelling with cat poses
Kitinda mimba Wicky still strong chilling
You know how to breed kings and queens
Now the situation changed for better
But not much can be said for our country
Still being rampaged with inequality
Still being forged with hate and animosity
Still youth are under the dollar sign
Still old people don't get them pensions
Still Nhif doesn't cover medical cost
Remember when we lost our dear ones ?
Still pain echoes when I reminisce
Still being mindful and cheerfully made
Still dancing our problem and going forward
The other day I got my flowers on T.v
Reminence how you said I will make it
A professor a driver and an artist
School hasn't been an option you know
Being live even for twenty minutes was enough
Dancing to reggae as we used to happily
Remember during the holidays after school ?
I was in charge of chicken and soft drinks
Knight , Lucy and Juma were in charge of pilau
Auma and Adhis made sure Karis and wicky were clean
And last but not least the dj
was I on the cassettes
Putting up Lingala and rhumba to fill the mood
Our neighbors luckily had gone to upcountry and all
We had the whole plot to ourselves literally
Ushering our uncles and aunties from home
I remember once even Dana and Kwara had sojourned
How they teased and laughed how the Nairobi meat is tough
Joy and laughter filled our home from corner to corner
Good things never last it seems
Death came knocking years later
My niece Christine got sick suddenly and hospital replaced our home
Weekend we're filled with strangers and doctor's visit
Relationship with our relatives seemed diminished
Blood was being thinned out every minute I dare said
Soon she left us to be with the ancestors
The happiness of hers and joy were filled with grief
Our first born Achieng couldn't accept the loss
The pain of loosing a child only a mother knows
She soon started growing tired and sickly
Before we knew it our lives revolved around hospital and bills
Killing our resources I had grow up and take up responsibility
From a little brother to an uncle to a father to my brothers
Soon hoodie figure stood at the gate again
Calling our first born by her name
My mother nearly lost it and banged the gate
Swinging the gate wildly nearly off the hinges
We had to be stronger sincerely no other option was near
She too went to sleep with the ancestors
Then our home became silent and calm
I nearly welcome the hoodies again
Went to paly with my peers and Karis
Fell from the building abandoned in the streets
My neck almost snapped and lost my right eye
I saw death shedding tears for Ma
I made a pact never to make my Ma cry
Talked to death after my patient in Kenyatta died in twilight
He a little lad like me had acute tuberculosis
I woke up next to my You since you never left my side
I recovered miraculously for someone who was facing death
Till now I am a miracle child the doctor aliased I
Thing turned out normal after the ordeal
Since I sacrificed my eye for my life a fair bargain
To see my mum even from one side view
To I that is a blessing waking up seeing her smile
Years later I'm almost finishing my primary school
You was diagnosed with meningitis
I smiled at you and you did the same
Saying that you needed time to see me graduate university
A professor in science and arts you used to say
My son is gifted "papa lefti" my alias
After the rhumba vocalist from Congo
Months you battle the disease with ease
August had the hoodie calling your bluff
Even the marijuana that you seemed to puff
Could not keep the disease at bay
One last drink you said to me one night
Two hundred shilling note in my bag
Fetch it and bring my castle lager your drink
Even though you were sickly I never judged
Went to the local bar and order the lager
The maid saw my face and bought me a half litre soda
That night I slept wide awake drinking with you
Our sibling death asleep on the other room
You even dared the hoodie with a laugh and a dance
Next day Dana came by and help you with medicine
Two weeks later tubes and IV were your means of living
Too tired even to scold us when we did wrong in school
I had to tell Karis to man up to his mistakes
Never bringing trouble home we were our own men
Young boys in their teens we had to grow a pair
Wickliffe being in lower class we had to shield him
The hoodie figure came again in broad daylight
I wad in class when the teacher broke the news
Apparently Karis didn't attend morning preps
He saw her last and came midday to school with news
Our Matron ,Queen, Our mother has gone
Till now you left a hole in my chambers
We went home soon and laid you to rest with ancestors
Years gone by our sisters married and filled the space within
From Juma we have Caesar the footballer after his father Terah
Bobby Jagongo the mischievous lad is a rugby player
Ashley doing her end year exams for primary
From Lucy we have Mitchell strong willed lady
Remember her 1st birthday we had you smeared with cake
I had the tuxedo on from Christmas ! Good times indeed
Eveline is finishing her high school studies too
A designer in the making I dare say
And Kimberly Lucy last born is almost done with primary school
An artist an a curious lady just I their uncle!
From Knight we have Fabian the boy who loves cars!
He is grown now pursuing computer science in University
Keshia is finishing her high school studies a brilliant lady
She is an aspiring writer like uncle Charlie
That what they call me and I hate that and love it
Call it a bitter sweet symphony my own bipolarity
Pamela the last born after your name is in secondary school
I am yet to see what she grows up into
Tabu is good now
From the domestic violence from her husband remember ?
How we almost beat that man to hospital bed for mistreating our own
Winnie her first born is a young lady now
Future is bright for her
No child should ever experience what she saw in their home
Ishmael is a budding artist in high school
I can't wait to give home the tools of trade from the sage
Fidel is in primary almost finishing up his primary school
A dancer in the making
Akinyi is growing up to be a strong woman
She staying with Juma you know how it is
Gift the last born boy let's just say the family is bigger
Auma is in Kiambu now
Her first born Emmanuel is a bright young lad
Her last born Sarah looks just like her mum
I haven't visited them that's my bad
Adhiambo is now a independent woman
She has a son I bet you know that
Keith is his name
A curious and intelligent lad I might add
As for me you know a jack of all trades
You taught me well for that I thank you
Told me never to hold back my gifts and strength
I will put our name on history to be our story
Karis has grown up too
From a young hustler to a career in film
The best grips and lights in the Industry
He has a young family he told I
I have to make time to go for a visit
A young boy suit him a blessing to our family
last but not least Wickliffe has grown tall
He is pursuing carpentry you know
I guess that the tea I had to share with you
I was nice catching up with you Ma
I must say politic is just the same
After fours years the leaders do their thing
After you left us our country went in P.E.V
Skirmishes here and there left many displaced
Some had trauma that has never left them on
I pray that the find peace now and then
Oh and I had to switch from religion to spirituality
Sorry Ma I have dreadlocks on my part
I know you used to braid long hair before I joined school
I am just following your roots
You was a saloonist u used to tell tales
And a crotchet weaver too I miss that
When it was Chama how you spread them
From chairs to table and cupboard
Guess that where I got my artistry from You!
Enough rambling I guess you hated when I do so
But it was nice sharing tales with you Ma
I know you are looking after us from the other side
Greet Dana and Kwara for I
Your papa lefti son
Odiwour even though you write it Oduor.
Inshallah.