Just a few Little Words

It takes a few words to cause much pain,
And it takes a few words to cause much happiness.
It takes a few words to cause someone to go astray,
And it takes a few words to help them to find their way back again.
It takes a few words to destroy someone's hopes and dreams,
And it takes a few words to give reason to hope and dream again.
It takes a few words to cause someone's day sad and dreary,
And it takes a few words to make someone's day happy and cherry.

Just a few words can comfort one in grief, can soothe a broken heart and bring one back from the bricks of despair.

Just a few words can calm someone's fears and ease someone's troubled thoughts.

If we love and appreciate others, and ourselves too, then life will be a wonderful, joyous gift!

So let just a few little word bring that smile to the face of the world.

And with just a few little words, I wish you all, all the best.

Thank you.

Where We Meet Them

Compulsion is the answer to my question, wow the expression on my face, nostalgic the state of my mood, and have I said that I'm aggressively emotional: Just did.

I can't help it!

Yes. I just can't help it.

I can't help but feel strongly compelled to the beautiful work unknown but skilled, prolific and talented writers can produce. And I am not alone. Well I won't be if you run, and not walk, but run and witness it all in www.africanwriter.com.

Let me give you an overview. The site is... eh, I think the webmaster needed a little more work done... but that's blinded by the affluence in the text. It is not poetry, prose, drama, short stories, fiction, you name it. Here individual writers have collectively portrayed their born creativity in Literature with Ike Anya leading in popularity.

Being an MSc student of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Ike, a medical doctor, has the talent and through him we get to see other very impressive attitude in the same field. Maik Nwosu takes the second position. And it is not just them but Toni Kan Onwordi, Segan Akinlolu among many others.

Before I let you set off, let me warn you. The whole experience in the site, when given a keen consideration, will definately have a profound influence on you. It will be a habit, day in day out, you and the site. I am a good example!

The Post Election's Violence

Words words words
Words without end
Words without end
We stand and watch
On fireless fireplaces

Heads of clan stand and stare
They come and go
Some die by beheading
Clans have no heads
They wait in pain for peace
But peace for scattered skeletons
Recks of bloody emptiness

Down the country side I know
Elephants fight daily
But the common grass I know
Under their feet
Bleeds, starves and dies
Under the strain of gun powder excreted
We are maimed daily
And the mime continues
This time again without words

From East African Poetry, Longman.

This is a poem I couldn't help but write down in my favorite journal. The time was during the brutal post election violence period, immediately after the 2007 general election, in Kenya. Thousands had to shed their red blood, other thousands had to heartlessly die, leave alone the destructions, molestations, rape and maximum hatred among tribes. I vividly remember standing a distance away, not believing my own two eyes as I witnessed neighbors collectively breaking another neighbor's shop. Why? Simply because the latter was a member of another tribe.

It was not just tribalism, but prejudice full to the brim. This is a time Kenyans will live to morn. A time when... the answer is silence. Silence because we don't just comprehend it.

Amazement & Craziness

It's a crazy world altogether. And, the 'Crazy Monday' magazine explains it all, not leaving even a bit untouched.

The truth is that I'm a little addicted to this famous and local magazine in Kenya. It is routinely found in the Monday edition of The Standard Newspaper, without failure. It is given more than enough love by the curious minds of proud Kenyans, ranging from the young to the old. It is just a place where we get the vivid replay of most of the crazy things we do or experience, and, Monday has never stopped being crazy!


Most importantly, this 8th June 2009 edition had a remarkable article that will live to be remembered for so long.



"When women hold manhood captive" is the title in bold. And let me boost by telling you that the author is a very good friend of mine. His names are Eric Andati. His profession an ICT guru. The hobbies... well it's a list... his career to start with, and the list mingles along the bright side of Earth, yeah, and ultimately ending with the deep passion for Literature: A coincidence! Really a coincidence.

In awe of Eric's piece of work, and, the anxiety over the dilution of the intense creativity in the content, I depose the urge of explaining further and deploy the accasion to proudly introduce you to the original article.

When Women Hold Manhood Captive

Pride in Kenya Today

It is yet another big! And big! memorable day for beautiful and determined Kenyans. A day when they proudly won the battle against colonialism, racism, and all kind of prejudice. A day when they harvested the hardly earned ripe fruits . A day when a beautiful smile was seen in all their faces. And a day that they will live to cherish forever. The big Madaraka Day.

1st June is just another day to the world. But the whole world to Kenyans. Every achievement, be it democratic, technological, religious... is attributed to this day. As Kenyans, we live it, accept it and appreciate it. This is what makes us proud, and the shout is "I'm proud to be a Kenyan!"

Ohh! NO!

Eric had not been feeling well for some time and so he decided to consult a doctor. He identified a renowned Doctor and went to see him.

The Doctor examined Eric for all the diseases he could imagine, but it was all in vain. So the doctor took some time to break the bad news. He told Eric that he could not detect any disease, but suspected depression. He also told Eric that he had heard of a good pastor in town to whom he had referred many patients suffering from depression. He assured Eric that all the patients he had sent there had fully recovered.

The Doctor therefore advised him to visit this pastor and seek his assistance. Eric looked at the Doctor and sadly said, "I am that pastor".

MY TWO CUSTOMERS

This was a conversation between two customers who were waiting for my service:

A lady: (In her early thirties, depressed and downhearted. All of a sudden, she has turned red, very bitter... and defensively stares at the next customer, who happens to be a man.) What are you looking at!? (Carried away) I already know that I am the most ugliest woman in the whole of Kenya. OK!?

The man: (Approximately 25, surprised but calm. Laughs sarcastically: He just can't help not to.) Oh, come on! Why do you underrate yourself? It's not just Kenya, it's in the whole world!!!

MARRIAGE!!!

One of my good friends, Mark, happens to be a married guy. He is 26 in age, a lucky husband of a beautifull lady and a proud father of the prettiest baby girl ever.

Mark is committed to his responsibilities and always inclined to perform his duties. He is never distracted, not even by my demanding invitation - during the weekends, to watch Man U play Arsenal. Actually, I am a Manchester United die hard fun while he boldly claims to be a top Gunner.

I find him to be a settled guy, and I envy him for that. On the contrary, I pity him sometimes. OK, I know this is a little contradicting. But let me explain.

We were both on the dinning table, in his dinning room busy - not eating, but with a Programming project to tackle. We had preferred the table because it was wide enough to manage all the work we had a head of us. It was full. Papers, big Programming books, files, two laptops... it was actually full.The phase to cover was the Problem Definition, but we had a problem. There were no enough resources to help us achieve our goal. And this was simply because Mark never did his homework. Nevertheless, he wasn't concentrating at that time. He just seemed too disturbed, and to get a few things straight, I had to ask.

The problem was with mark's wife who wasn't in, and to make the matters worse, she had spent the previous night away. According to Mark, constant calls to her office during the day had yield no results. His wife had been to the office the previous morning and was reportedly in the field for official duties. Messages for her to return his calls were not yet answered, and this made him less enthusiastic about calling her again.

After listening to his explanations, I found the matter to be too big to mull over. At least not then. Yes. Honestly speaking, what could I had done? Jumped into conclusions? Hey! Not me! And neither did I know how to console him.
So I just stared at him.

To my relief, he postponed the analysis of the project work and kindly asked me to give him some time alone. And I respected that.

But I had to see him again immediately afterwards, to give the issue a followup. I had to know what happened and, at least, help where I can. So I met him later on and I realized that after I had left, he took Faith - his two years old daughter, to her bedroom and laid her on her crib. He went back to the dinning room, cleaned up the paper mess and finally went to the living room. He thought about calling her office again, but instead took a Bible and started leafing aimlessly through it. He eventually dozed off to a troubled sleep.

If I may quote him explaining, "They were chasing her, thoroughly enjoying her tortured run as they shot behind her heels, laughing as her frustration mounted. Suddenly she was in a cage with nothing to protect her from her pursuers, some holding crude weapons and others with guns. They would undoubtedly tear her to shreds".

"The leader of the gang sneered at her, opening the roof of the cage and then closing it like a hunter teasing a trapped animal on pointless ways of escape, knowing the prey had no chance to escape".

Then somebody was shinning a bright light on his eyes and shaking him at the same time. There was shrill in her voice. Mark had woken up with a start... It was her! Jennifer!

She was from a job related trip where they had to camp for the night. I just don't understand what Mark was expecting, or suspecting. I mean, she is working under the UN!

Hmmm... Marriage!

IF ONLY...

If only,
We did what is right,
Life would be alright.
We would avoid plight,
And live in delight,
We wouldn't have to fight.

If only,

We would follow Christ's example,
Of how he was humble,
And made ourselves the sample,
We would not stumble and grumble,
Our enjoyment would be ample.

If only,
We obeyed the beatitudes,
Then we the multitude,
Would show gratitude,
And a positive attitude
To any assistance magnitude.

If only,
We embraced God's pleasure,
And left behind our pressure,
Life would be fresher.
We would live to our measure,
Enjoy all our leisure,
And become great treasures.

If only,
We avoid pre-marital sex,
And waited till we get married,
HIV AIDS wouldn't be carried,
We would not live to be worried,
That our friends will be burried.

So let's act well,
To ensure we don't fell,
And find ourselves in hell,
At the sound of God's bell,
For there it is knell.

By:

All who are concerned.

Anxious About the Future

The night was young and the time was approximately eight after noon. I was sitting outside at my favorite spot, in the yard, busy trying to interact with nature as I was waiting for dinner. The moon was high and bright. The sweet wind blew gently kissing the trees and they made no noise. The vast sky was clear and the twinkling stars seemed to be dancing, dancing to the calm beat of my heart. Oh! The night was beautiful, and I found joy viewing the sky. Off cource this was where I had caste my eyes for minutes, maybe hours: I just couldn't tell.

The date was eighteenth November, the year two thousand and eight. Three days after I had phenomenally accomplished my K.C.S.E examinations. The whole world was a head of me. I felt it was time to delve deep into my hidden pockets and comb for my National Identity Card, the one that had been having no use ever since I had acquired it. Yes, it was actually time when every move and decision I make would be judged. Partly, tomorrow seemed bright, part of it quite dark and I couldn't stop feeling a future full of confusion. Rescue only seemed to be coming from mulling over issues, thinking twice before acting, and above all, readily accepting the consequences of every move I was going to make.

I really didn't know much, and neither did I want to jump into conclusions. But I knew one thing. I was ready to face it!

Escaping the Ugliness of Life

I really like it when I sail, especially when I look all around just to see a horizon, where the sky and the waters meet. I always feel nothing. The troubling past, demanding attention, is always not there. So is the overwhelming future, promising more troubles.

I always find peace at the emptiness of the sea.

But then, I am always confronted by the present circumstances at the same time. And I realize that we just cannot escape from reality. I guess all we have to do is live it. Boldly- just an idea or, assertively, you may say.

For those religious out there, please help me say this prayer:

" God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change those I can. And, may you give me the wisdom to know their differences. Amen"

MONDAY MORNING

I woke up in the morning as usual. I sat on my bed for about two or more minutes trying to figure out what to do first. It was a cloudy morning with rain promising to shower later on. The clouds were dark and low, the wind blew furiously, impatiently shaking the trees all over. The morning silence accompanied by birds singing songs of enchantment, was no more. They were now viewed as history, or preferably, a dream to come. Nothing seemed friendly anymore.

The harsh winter was young, and the early good moods complemented by the morning glory had disappeared with summer: everything was gloomy. I was no exception. I groaned at the fact that I had to wake up early and prepare for work. This was, though, a daily routine. A routine I had gotten used to and always enjoyed. On the contrary, things had changed with the shivering colds everywhere, and I cursed winter. I looked back and faced my half folded, soft, heavy, warm and maroon cotton blanket; I turned my eyes to see the sparklet white sheet, the comfortable pillows... and with a grin I remarked the spectacular view that made my cosy bed. For a moment, I wished things were other wise. I adored those who were retired, with no place to go to early again.

My clock's alarm went on. I realized that I had woken up approximately five minutes earlier, and I smiled. I knew that I had enough time to prepare for work. I was going to have a hot delicious breakfast, and oh! I would walk comfortably to the Cyber cafe too. I was going to be early and I knew without any doubt that Linnet: my co-worker, was going to be surprised, surprised at my astonishing achievement. I couldn't wait to see her facial expression when she was going to find me early, and waiting, at the shop's door. But I knew that I was going to love it!